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

His Plan Is Good

 

     I pray you are feeling extra special this week. You are! His plan for your life is pleasing and perfect. He will work for the good even when you can’t perceive it. His love is astronomical. As one of my favorite authors Max Lucado wrote, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.”

     You are His precious child. You are His workmanship. God’s plan for you is intimate and personal. He longs for a relationship with You, all day, every day. Your future looks bright in His mighty hands.

“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

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

     God has a hope and a future for you, plans for you to do His good works that will bless you and bless others. We were created with certain gifts unlike anyone else! You are His handiwork, His piece of art, His love.   

     How do we know what that plan is? What do we do? Where should we go? Will we miss out? No, never!  Relax into His mighty, all-powerful hands. God work always continues even when we don’t notice. His hand is upon us day and night. He will provide opportunities when we least expect them. We are unique in this crazy world. We belong to Jesus.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, perfect and pleasing will. Romans 12:2

     Take the following words from Scripture as a way to begin your plan today and be blessed.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:9-12

Amen!

 

Unconditional Love

 

     One of the greatest gifts in life is the gift of unconditional love. Maybe you were blessed to grow up in a family that gave and received love. You knew, no matter what, no matter the mistakes made on either side of the relationship, love remained.

     When we are loved unconditionally, our confidence grows. Our confidence in ourselves as people worthy to be loved and confident enough to give others our love and loyalty and trust.

     Jesus offers us unconditional, everlasting love. His love is beyond even our greatest and most love-filled relationships on earth. Jesus can fill in the gaps suffered from unloving relationships. He can fill our hearts with His love when we are lonely, and fill our hearts with renewed peace and joy.

     As believers, we will have Jesus forever. Nothing we can do will pull us away from His grasp. We belong to Him. We can conquer anything with His kind of love. Here are a few more of my many, many favorite verses.  Place them in your hearts and be filled.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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 8:37-39

Jesus,

Your love is so deep and wide, so sacrificial and so overwhelming, it is hard for us to accept. Thank You for loving us. Let Your Holy Spirit wash over us and lavish us with the much-needed love today and every day. May we never forget.

Amen

 

Chosen Blessed Forgiven

 

     If you want to feel cherished and loved and grow in your faith in Christ, a great chapter to read is the first book of Ephesians. Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is filled with the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. I won’t print the entire chapter, but here are a few blessings we have with Christ as our Savior.
We have been:
• blessed in the heavenly realms (v.3)
• chosen (v. 4)
• adopted as sons and daughters (v. 5)
• given His glorious grace (v. 6)
• forgiven (v. 7)
• given his wisdom and understanding (v. 8)
• made a part of His perfect and pleasing will (v. 9-11)
• included in Christ (v. 13)
• sealed with the Holy Spirit (v. 13)
• guaranteed a heavenly home (v. 14)
     As I close this devotion, please read carefully through the following words from this beloved chapter. These words are given for you as a believer in Jesus Christ and I pray them over you today. Listen to the love and power you now have available as children of the most-high God.
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:15-21
     These words are too wonderful to comprehend! The very same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead now lives within us! Take that with you today. Have confidence in the one who has saved you! He is risen and His power lives with us.
Jesus,
We praise You for all of the many gifts and blessings You have lavished on us. Thank You for these beautiful reminders in Your precious word for us. We love You
Amen

 

All Things

 

     God provides what we need. All He asks as we accept Jesus as Savior is to love one another and to follow Him. The Bible from Genesis to Revelation points to Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior. All things are His now and forever. The earth was made for His glory.

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

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

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones for powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:16-17

     The Father, through Jesus, offers us blessings from the throne room of grace.

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

     In all things, God is good all the time. He is enough.

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

Lord,

As we move through our days, remind us You are everywhere, in all things and all things will be done ultimately for Your purpose. Provide for us today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

All In All

 

     Marriage has been a gift to me and I love reading back through the laughter, tears, the ups and downs of our now 39 years together. At the same time, close friends have been through painful loss, both in divorce and death. Life is so precious and so very difficult at times.

     For me, Jesus is the answer. He is our truest, most loyal companion, the one who will be there to give us just what we need at any given moment, to sustain us through each day of life. Others will let you down. Loved ones will move to heaven before us. Our sorrows and our joys are felt by our heavenly Father.

     He is there when we are broken hearted.

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

     He is there with open arms when we are weary.

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

     He will rejoice with you and is delighted with you.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you. In His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

     My prayer for you is to trust Jesus wherever you find yourself in life. If you are lonely, He will be your constant companion. If you are filled with joy, He rejoices with you. If you are tired, give Him your hand. Open your heart to Him, believe in His death and resurrection to save you, and give Him your entire heart. Pour it all out to Him and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Jesus,

Take hold of us wherever we are today. We are grateful for those you give us along the way to share our lives. We praise You for them and we thank You for being everything we need. You are the all in all. (! Corinthians 15:28)

In Jesus name,

Amen

Joy

 

     As we look for God’s opportunities and blessings throughout the changes in life, we can look back on countless joys. The years have flown and our kids have grown into amazing adults, having conquered change after change of their own. The joy of watching them grow, find their true loves and become parents has brought us countless changes and countless moments of joy.

     The word “joy” is found over 200 times in Scripture. Much of the joy is found in times of worshipping God. Being in His presence brings the deepest kind of joy. Our earthly moments of joy are mingled with our times of sadness, complacency, anger, worry and hardship.

     The joy of the Lord is our strength. (see Nehemiah 8). The joy found in Jesus is deep and abiding. Remember Him throughout your days, whatever life brings and find joy. Bask in those fleeting earthly moments of delight, with friends, family and those immeasurable moments with grandkids or other children around you. They know how to find delight. And joy is found in Jesus and in the heaven that awaits us.

Splendor and majesty are before Him. Strength and joy are in His dwelling place. 1 Chronicles 16:27

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21

But let all those who take refuge in You be glad. Let them sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11

     I could write page after page with the joy in Scripture. The Psalms are filled with words of joy and worship. I leave you with one more. Rejoice in His presence, even when it is tough to find joy. You are loved.

You make known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11

Father,

Your joys will last through eternity. Remind us to take in the earthly moments of joy and blessing as we await our heavenly home.

In Jesus name,

Amen

    

Counting Our Blessings

 

     As aging baby boomers, we have witnessed change after change, in our culture, in the world, in our families, in our bodies. We have lost loved ones, fought for relationships, and cherished friends and family. Counting our blessings becomes challenging, but with God, there are many.

     Our losses increase as we age and parts of life become more difficult. Good friends have said earthly goodbyes to their spouses. Some of our closest friends and family have preceded us in death. In spite of the grief, we come back to hope. Throughout all of the changes in our lives, God remains steadfast as our constant companion, friend and Savior.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. Hebrews 13;8

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

     The blessings of God remain, long after we have left this earth. Our loved ones remain in our hearts, minds and memories until we are together forever once again.  Our forever time with them is still ahead. God will strengthen us. He will comfort us. He will help us. He is love.

Lord,

Comfort those who mourn. Remind us of our many blessings on this earth and in heaven to come. Touch us with Your unending mercy as we count our blessings each day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

He Won't Give Up

 

     Don’t lose heart. God continues to work in us at all times, even when we don’t understand, even when we don’t feel His presence. He prepares people and places for us, long before we recognize His plans. The Israelites went around the same mountain for 40 years on a journey that should have taken 11 days! And God continued to give them one chance after another. Every single time they faltered, He gave them another chance. They, inevitably, turned back to Him and there He was.

     Are you going in circles around that same mountain? Try a new path. Try it God’s way. Look into Scripture for answers on the tough questions in your life. Some of the journey will be an up-hill battle, but His ways will be in your best interest. His ways will not sound like the ways of the world. It’s not about us. It’s about Him. And He is working in your life, until that one day He meets you face-to-face.

Being confident of this; that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

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

Jesus,

There You are, waiting for us to turn back to You. Keep us from the vicious circle of sin in our lives. Move us into the blessings You have waiting for us. You never give up. You just keep on working and waiting.

Amen

Trust His Timing

 

     Change often brings fear and uncertainty. Maybe, like me, you have moved ahead of God’s steps and made the wrong choices. Even when we are following God’s lead, life becomes difficult. Luckily, He never gives up on teaching us His ways. Trusting Him through days of uncertainty, fear and grief can be tough. He asks us to trust Him completely.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

     The Holy Spirit lives in us. As we grow in our faith, we learn to trust His guidance and follow peace within. He sacrificed everything for us. Let’s continue to follow Him with a humble and a cheerful heart.

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

     Today let’s not move too fast. Watch and listen and be still.

He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a

Lord,

Forgive us when we move too fast or lag too far behind. We become impatient in waiting. Your timing is always perfect. We stay still today and listen for Your Holy Spirit to guide us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Entertaining Strangers

 

     If you are like me, change can be difficult. God continually guides us to new adventures, new opportunities, and into the lives of the most unexpected people. He brings others into our lives for a lifetime, a season, a year or a day for His purposes. Did you know that even angels can disguise themselves as people? Listen to this verse:

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2

     Keep your heart and mind open to God’s work in your life. Is He asking you to try something new? Has He brought someone new into your life? Are you taking every opportunity to speak of and to show His love? He may bless you with the presence of an angel. The spiritual realm is at work all around us.

     Many of the angels spoken of in Scripture were created to worship and honor God and to surround His holy presence, including the seraphim and the cherubim. Other angels are watching over us:

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1;14

     God protects His own. Pray for His protection, for His angels to surround you and your loved ones and watch for exciting opportunities each day. Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone and into a new adventure.

Lord,

We can’t imagine all the times we miss out on Your work around us. Keep our hearts and minds open to what You are doing and to where You are leading. We thank You for Your ministering angels sent for us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Dearly Loved

 

     Walk in confidence today as a child loved by God. You are dearly loved. Yes, you!

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

     Dear sisters and brothers loved by God, He has chosen you. He has chosen me. Christ will give us His righteousness, His power, and His wisdom and His truth. Our steadfast faith in Him gives us confidence.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 2 Corinthians 3:4

     Equally and uniquely loved. He loved us so we may love our brothers and sisters in the faith, as well as others in the world. Our confidence rests in Christ, our faith secure. Be yourself. Let your personality, gifts and talents shine in this dark world. We walk in freedom and trust, knowing we are His, now and forever. Rest in that this week as you venture out, dear brothers and sisters loved by God.

Father,

We rest in Your love, moving in confidence. Your love never fails and You forgive time and time again. We remain Yours now and forever, children dearly loved..

In Jesus name.

Amen

Uniquely Loved

 

     We are equally and uniquely loved. Your relationship with Jesus will look different than mine. I have a good friend who is fortunate enough to spend two hours every morning in deep study and prayer. What a gift!

     Another of my friends is an extrovert who just takes Jesus with her wherever she goes, picking up nuggets of wisdom from Him along the way throughout the day. What does your relationship with Jesus look like? Are you aware of His presence? Do you ask for direction throughout the day? Do you seek Him when a decision has to be made? Pray for the health of others? Look to His Word for answers?

     He yearns to be close to each one of us equally and uniquely. He honors each one of us in deep love and concern. He is for us and with us every moment.

Now you are the body of Christ and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5

     Equal parts of the same body, each one uniquely created, to work together in service. Don’t you just love His plan? He loves us and we love one another.

Lord,

Thank You for the individual gifts You give, the way You guide us into relationship with You and with others. We wait for opportunities to serve, each one in the ways chosen by You. Teach us how to find our spiritual gifts and to use them to Your glory.

He First Loved Us

 

     We love because of Jesus. We are transformed because of Jesus. We can live with the Holy Spirit of the Creator of the universe because of Jesus. We can live supernaturally, with hope, because of Jesus.

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

     Because He first loved us. That love permeates everything about us. He lavishes us with the type of love that defeats death and brings life.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

     We are children of God! He lavished His love on us with Jesus. And because of Him, because of His forgiveness, His grace, His new mercies every morning, because of His death, we can choose life, life now and forever.

Jesus,

Thank You for the gift of life everlasting, and for the great love You lavish on us each day. Help us to live out our lives with that same love for others. We love, because You first loved us.

Amen