Peace Within

 

     How do we go on when we are brokenhearted? Somehow, we put one foot in front of the other. Just one tiny step at a time may be the most we can manage. We get through the week, the day, the hour, the next ten minutes. Life is not normal, and we wonder if there will ever be a “normal” again.

     As Christians, our eternal perspective can soften us into some form of peace and joy deep within. All can be well with our souls, even when our bodies, minds and hearts are crushed and broken. Jesus knows our hardships. He suffered more than any of us ever have or ever will. Why did He suffer? He suffered for you and for me.

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

     I pray for each of you today, that it is well with you. Most of all, I pray that all is well with your soul.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2

Jesus,

The pain suffered throughout our lifetime seems insurmountable and impossible to endure at times. Days and nights move on in agony and loss. Bring comfort to those who mourn today. Heal their souls with Your promise of hope and life. Bring peace to their inner being.

Amen

 

Close to the Brokenhearted

 

     My husband and I traveled to Chicago recently to say goodbye to a good friend and celebrate his life.  At this age, we have grieved the loss of so many. My friend and I have known each other since we were 2.. We are now over 70 years old. Yes, this has been a lifetime friendship. Hopscotch and jacks, kickball, neighborhood plays, barbies, Beatle’s and Beach Boys, first crushes, high school hockey games, found our first jobs together, and I was there when she met her husband over 50 years ago. We continue to celebrate our joys and sorrows.

     Her husband was diagnosed with a fast-growing terminal brain cancer over 10 years ago and passed away after a battle against it.  My heart is still breaking for her and her boys and for all of us who knew this wonderful man. I cry out to God. Comfort her, Lord. Strengthen her, Lord. Her cry and mine are heard. Jesus is there with her and He is here with me.

     As we age, we witness the loss of spouses, friends and family. Our earthly goodbyes are impossibly difficult.

     Are you going through a time of heartache and loss?

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

      The Lord is close. He cares for you and He cares for my friend and He knows our hearts. Jesus will see us through somehow. He will never leave us. Never. And joy will return. (Psalm 30:5)

Father,

Heal our crushed spirits and broken hearts. Sometimes it feels as though our hearts might just break in two. Comfort those in mourning and lead us into Your peace. Turn our memories into smiles.

In Jesus name,

Amen

All Things

 

     Love the Lord. Leave a legacy. Live your life. As you consider our witnesses past and present, think about your future as one of those witnesses. I love the fact that there are clouds of witnesses, thousands upon thousands of them in heaven, still making a difference on earth. God chose the people of the Bible to continually teach us and guide us. We encounter situations in our lives that are echoed in their stories.

     I want the echo of my life to resound after I leave this earth and, most importantly, to leave a legacy of faith. Without Jesus, it would be impossible to get through the days. But with Him?

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

     Guarding our hearts away from the cares of this world is not easy. But all of those worries, all of that fear and doubt? He’s got them all under control and we can do all this through His strength. Each day brings us closer and closer to meeting Him face to face and being greeted by our great cloud of witnesses.

Dear Lord,

We want to be a witness for You. Show us how as we get through our short lives on earth. Make us matter as we bring glory to You through what we say and how we live,

Amen

Together

 

     The heroes of our faith long gone, bless us today through their histories. Our loved ones gone from earth fill our hearts, as they await us in heaven. The list included in our cloud of witnesses gathers around us to strengthen us and give us hope.

     What about the witnesses currently affecting us? Are there women and men of faith inspiring you right now, right here, at this time in history? I have been and continue to be inspired by pastors and leaders around the world, standing for their faith, willing to give their lives and hearts to the gospel of Christ.

     I have been fortunate to be surrounded by other believers in two congregations over a span of over 30 years. Many of my closest friends are followers of Christ. They love Jesus. They love the Word of God and as the proverb says:

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

     We sharpen each other, loving each other even when we disagree. As Beth Moore says in one of her Bible studies, Children of the Day, “We don’t have to see eye to eye to walk side by side.

     I pray for you to find women and men of faith to help you grow, to walk by your side, as we continue to admonish, encourage and teach each another. We all have so much to learn from our cloud of witnesses.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  Colossians 3:16

Jesus,

Today we thank you for the witnesses You have given us. Bring others around us to strengthen us in our faith. You hae a way of bringing just the right people around us when we need them.

Amen

One in Spirit

 

     Our great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, those past and present. Jesus, in the 17^th chapter of the Gospel of John, not only prays for Himself, and for His followers, but He prays into the future for all who will believe.

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

     This brings the communion of saints to a much deeper level. When we take the bread and drink the cup we remember the sacrifice of Jesus. We come to the table along with the past, the present, and the future believers. We are in the presence of the cloud of witnesses. I hope and pray this brings comfort to you today. Next time you take communion think about your friends, your grandparents, your parents, or siblings and other loved ones already in heaven. They are present with you in this sacred covenant and we will be together again one day.

     In the meantime, we are one together with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, united together to make Christ’s presence known. With so great a cloud of witnesses, we can do it!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for watching over us. You prayed for us two thousand years ago and You are with us today. Watch over our loved ones in heaven. We are one with them in Spirit and one day soon we will all be together forever.

Amen

Faith For the Journey

 

     The men and women of the Old Testament are part of our “cloud of witnesses.” They moved ahead in faith. Abraham did not know where he was going, but he followed the instructions of God. Moses could not have foreseen the armies behind him. He could not have imagined the parting of the Red Sea. And he certainly did not envision leading 2 million people for 40 years on what should have been an 11-day journey. And yet, he followed and obeyed. He trusted God for each step along the way.

     Knowing God so intimately is a gift available to us. The living breathing Spirit of Christ can lead us even when we are scared. Even when the sea is about to crash over us. Even when our future looks bleak. Here is a great definition of faith.

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

     Take your lead from the pioneers of our faith. As we believe in what we cannot see and have confidence in our hope in God, we please Him.  It’s all about faith.

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

Lord,

We want to earnestly seek You. Give us eyes and ears of faith. We, too, want to leave a legacy of faith with our families and friends. Guide our steps to trust You and to seek the wisdom of our cloud of witnesses.

Amen

 

A Cloud of Witnesses

 

     The footsteps of faith mark the way. The faithful servants that went before us.The trails of their lives teach us. One left everything he had known to travel to places unknown. One led his people despite his weaknesses. One built an ark and suffered ridicule and heartache for years. They fought and obeyed and suffered and believed. Can we leave such a witness?

     The 11^th chapter of the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament is often called the “Hall of Faith.” It lists these pioneers of faith, one after the other; Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and so many more. They walked by faith and not by sight. Their lives would begin the journey to Jesus.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

     And here we are in this age of grace. Because of their faith and witness, we learn to listen to our God. Can we trust Him through our suffering and our doubts and our uncertain futures? They did.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Dear Father,

We thank You for these men and women of faith. Let us continue to read Your Word as You teach us through the lives of so many. Walking by faith pleases You. Even when we don’t see the promised land, we will follow You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Beyond This World

 

     Walking in the Spirit is a constant battle, isn’t it? We get distracted. Satan is always up to his old tricks of deceit, putting thoughts in our head, lying to us to make us believe him rather than God. Our flesh cries out and the spirit fights back. As we nuture our faith and rely more and more on the power of Christ available to us, we can remain more and more at peace, filled with the constant joy of Jesus.

     The song “It Is Well With My Soul,” is a reminder of what we have in Jesus. Our souls, the very deepest part of us, can be at peace throughout our lives, knowing we are not at home. Our home is with Jesus and one day, all things will become new and we will live forever in His presence. Keep that deep down in your soul at all times. The joy and peace of Christ is not of this world. It is beyond it. And the Holy Spirit within will continue to grow us in that wisdom. All we need to do is ask.

     Ask for His guidance every day. Ask for help when you feel helpless. Ask for power when you feel weak. Ask for wisdom when you don’t understand. Ask for peace when you are in turmoil. Ask for joy when you are downcast. Ask for patience when you can’t take it anymore! Ask for a heart of love when hatred is all around. It is there, just for the asking, the power of the Spirit lives in you.

Let’s end the week with this verse as a prayer:

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

 

Amen!

 

    

In Step

 

let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

     Is it possible to keep in step with the Spirit? What does that look like? It means following Christ when it is difficult, doing the right thing when our flesh cries out to do what it wants, taking time to be with the Lord when we are busy, sharing love when we are angry, using our struggles to share a testimony. It is life lived abundantly with the power of the Holy Spirit.

     We can’t do it in our human flesh. It is supernatural, impossible in our humanity. Oh, but God offers us so much more, when we allow Him to work within us.

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

     I don’t know about you, but I want to tap into those heavenly blessings. They are beyond the world in which we live, yet they are made available to us. Ask God to lavish you with His love and blessings today as we listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

 

 

Spiritual Power

 

     The Holy Spirit will teach us all things about Jesus. As you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will open your eyes, ears and heart to His truth. The word of God is able to teach us and bring us to new revelation, to new purpose, to a change in life. There may be an eye-opening moment, a verse that leaps off the page, or a deep peace when praying. The words of our Lord. Jesus speak about the promised Holy Spirit.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26    

     The Holy Spirit is our teacher, our counselor, our advocate. He anoints us with His power to represent our Lord.

As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in Him. 1 John 2:27

     We are anointed with His power as He teaches us all things. Remain in Jesus. What an exciting adventure!

Father,

How do we thank You for Your Holy Spirit? His power works in us and through us as we remain rooted in Jesus, in relationship, in prayer and in study. Give us the wisdom to seek You at all times.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blog will return on Thursday.

Spiritual Power

 

     The Holy Spirit will teach us all things about Jesus. As you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will open your eyes, ears and heart to His truth. The word of God is able to teach us and bring us to new revelation, to new purpose, to a change in life. There may be an eye-opening moment, a verse that leaps off the page, or a deep peace when praying. The words of our Lord. Jesus speak about the promised Holy Spirit.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26    

     The Holy Spirit is our teacher, our counselor, our advocate. He anoints us with His power to represent our Lord.

As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in Him. 1 John 2:27

     We are anointed with His power as He teaches us all things. Remain in Jesus. What an exciting adventure!

Father,

How do we thank You for Your Holy Spirit? His power works in us and through us as we remain rooted in Jesus, in relationship, in prayer and in study. Give us the wisdom to seek You at all times.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Blog will return on Thursday.

Abundant Light

 

Your sun will never set again and your moon will wane no more. The Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of sorrow will end. Isaiah 60:20

     I pray for you as we enter a fresh new year. May this be a year of new light, of new beginnings, of astounding hope and possibilities such as you have never seen or experienced. Believe in God. Believe in the way He sees you as His beloved child. And as His child you can shine His love light wherever you go.

     Pray for the people in your life. Reach out to others. If you are going through a time of difficulty turn the focus on to someone else, if possible. Bake some cookies. Give a word of encouragement. Pay a compliment. Let Jesus shine through you. The more you give away the more you will receive in great blessings. If you are in deep despair or struggle, accept help. There are others willing to listen, to drive, to cook, to be there.

     I pray for you dear children of the light, as the Son prays for you. Before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed He would be glorified and He prayed for all of us to be one with the Son and the Father. Let’s unite in His name.

“The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God.” Robert Murray M’Cheyne.

Jesus,

Shine Your divine light on us and through us in the new year. May others ask about You because of us. We can make an eternal difference for You.

Amen

 

Fresh Light

 

     The sun comes up late and goes down early. A New Year is here. We could choose to focus on the darkness. Or we could watch for the first rays of the dawn and dream of longer days ahead. The shortest and darkest days of the year bring the end of one season and the beginning of another.

     With God, each ending promises a new beginning. Each omega brings the promise of another alpha. Darkness comes just before the dawn. Satan wants us to focus on the darkness. He confuses darkness with light and sometimes we are fooled. We find ourselves remaining in a dark place without believing in a way out. It feels comfortable. We make the best of it.

     God offers full light, beacons of hope before the fullness of the sun. His hope remains. His hope is everlasting. Brightness is ahead. Full summer days to bask in His light. Let the hope of fresh beginnings fill you this morning.

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning. My God turns my darkness into light. Psalm 18:38

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

     Take a deep breath and watch for the dawn. Count your blessings and pray for fresh light.

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

     God is making a new way just for you!

Father,

We wait in hope for the new beginnings you have in store for us. Shine your beacon of hope through the darkness of these days. You are making a new path for us. You are the God of new beginnings.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Godly Wisdom

 

     As we look ahead in this new year, one of the best things we can do is to ask for Godly wisdom. God works from the inside out. Everything is a matter of the heart to Him. Godly wisdom will shut our mouths when we want to shout. Godly wisdom will bring patience when we are anxious to move ahead. Godly wisdom will take us to His word and away from the world. Godly wisdom will shine light in the darkest recesses of our heart.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

     Ask for Godly wisdom and His attributes will begin to show through in your life.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

Lord,

We ask for Your kind of wisdom throughout this new year. You promise to give to us generously. Teach us to wait for Your ways, instead of rushing ahead into the chaos of this world and all that is not from You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Way Ahead

 

     Transforming change is right around the corner. God takes us one step at a time into a bright and hope-filled future. Stay patient. Move slowly. Protect your heart. Listen to His voice. When you can’t see ahead, trust God. He moves in ways we don’t always perceive. He takes us up steep slopes and over rocky paths in order for us to find the straight and smooth path once again. .

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do. I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

     Take God at His wonderful word. Take His mighty hand and He will make those rough places smooth. The path may be unfamiliar and appear a bit scary, but God will never leave us or forsake us and the darkness will become light because of Him.

Lord,

Keep us patient for Your way to be made clear. You hold us in Your Almighty hands and You guide us along paths unfamiliar to us. Keep us steadfast on the solid ground of our faith as we move into a future known only by You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Moving Ahead

 

     As you welcome 2026 and look forward to this brand-new year, do you long to let go of something or someone? Do you need to forgive someone or forgive yourself? Is there an unhealthy relationship you need to leave? How about letting it all go and promising yourself to begin to trust God more and allow Him to set you on a path of peace and joy?

     Hope is eternal. Hope is for new beginnings and what better time to imagine a hope-filled future than turning the page into a brand-new kind of hope? Let’s let go of unforgiveness, of unhealthy relationships, of anger and bitterness and move to hope and peace.

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

     Pray to let go of all that is hurtful and harmful. Hang on to the goodness, the memories that warm your heart and take a step ahead. As you let go of pain and darkness, hang on to light and blessings and hope. God will never let go of you.

I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:29

Father,

We pray to let go of past hurts, of present harm and move with purpose into a future filled with hope. You are the author and finisher of our faith. Give us a brand-new start.

In Jesus name,

Amen