Working Together

     I love the fact that God uses us in so many unique ways. Have you allowed Him to use you in an unexpected way? He knows your personality, your weaknesses, your talents and your fears. Sometimes He even takes a weakness and uses His strength through it for His purposes.

     I facilitate a Bible study on Tuesday mornings for about 30 wonderful women. As a legally blind instructor I need a whole team to make this work. The beauty of working together inter-dependently is counter cultural.  We crave our independence, beleving we can do it all ourselves. We are strong! We are invincible! Now, don’t get me wrong. We can all use a good pep talk now and again and we do need to press forward on our own once in awhile.

     But Christ reminds us that we need each other. We are called into the church to work together as His body, each one doing our part. I am reminded of this truth each week as my sweet 84-year-old neighbor drives me to and from Bible Study. I am reminded of it when my husband and daughters read me some small print. I am reminded of it when the technology whiz at church helps me mirror the small screen to the large viewing screen and as I watch the 30 women around me minister to one another.

     We need each other through the valleys and the mountain-top experiences. We need others to be strong when we are weak. We need teachers to teach and the hospitable to welcome and serve and the serving heart to set up and clean up. We need the pastors to preach and the intercessors to pray. We need the administrators to keep us on track and the encouragers to give us those pep talks.

     Celebrate our differences today and, miraculously, celebrate how God weaves us together in a way that works. After all, we have one Spirit and One Father in heaven and He distributes the gifts.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:4-7

Father,

We are all one in You. Teach us to appreciate each other and to work together as You see fit. Give us the gifts You desire to live out our purposes for You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Treasures Of The Heart

     What do you treasure most in life? What occupies your thoughts and dreams, your time and energy? Is God an unopened treasure? Maybe you want a relationship with Him, but haven’t figured out where to start. The relationship begins with the heart.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:21

     Studying God’s Word is life-changing. You will find knowledge and truth and wisdom for life. Dig into the Word and discover the hidden treasures of God. Those treasures will fill your heart. Solomon was considered the wisest man who ever lived. Listen to these words of instruction for his son.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding-indeed if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, than you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  Proverbs 1-5

     Look into the Word of god as one searching for silver and gold. It is worth more than the riches of earth. Your heart will be filled with the treasures of heaven.

Jesus,

Thank You for Your Words that give us understanding, wisdom and love. Out of our hearts flow the treasures of life. Please let our greatest treasure be You.

Amen

Seek The Kingdom

     Yesterday we fixed our eyes on things above. Did you notice when we fix our eyes and hearts on the things of the Spirit we take the focus off of ourselves? It’s not easy. We worry about what we will eat, what we will wear, the deadline, the doctor, the bills, our age. The list goes on-going and never-ending. Jesus asks us to focus our attention on the things of the kingdom

So do not worry saying “what shall we eat?” or “what shall we drink?” or “what shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6: 31-33

     Seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness, placed first in our lives, will bring purpose and peace. Try it. Seek it. Focus on Jesus. Let your life point to Him. He brought peace and joy and hope to the lonely, to the sick, to the prisoners, to the adulterer, to the tax collector, to you and to me. He loves and transforms and turns us continually back to gaze at Him. Give Him the worries of today and tomorrow lived in the flesh and move in the Spirit. Relax in Him. He’s got this. He’s got you.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus,

We come to You with our burdens, our worries, our self focused minds. You take the burdens and the worry and carry them for us. We seek Your righteousness and honor You today.

Amen

Life and Death

     Life in the flesh is death and life in the spirit is life. Our senses tell us just the opposite. If we only live by what we see, we might believe this life is it. But God placed eternity in our hearts. (Ecclesiastes 11). The spiritual realm is as real as our flesh. Our temporary shells will waste away, but our spirits will live forever and our heavenly bodies will not decay.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:5-6

     The New Testament reminds us over and over again to set our minds on things above. Thinking about the things of the Spirit brings life and peace. I desire that, don’t you? I know I have shared the following verses. Put your minds on the things of God today. Give your spirit the attention it deserves, for these are the things that last.

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

     Are your eyes fixed on the temporary or the eternal? Set your hearts and minds on things above; the eternal glory that will last. Fix your heart on Jesus.

Dear Lord,

Remind us that what we see is temporary. Your love lasts forever. Renew our minds on Your Word and our hearts on loving You. The temporary is death and the Spirit is life. We set our minds on You.

Amen   

Sons and Daughters

     There is always hope as we look forward to eternity. We need not dread getting older! Each day brings us closer to our heavenly hope. We will only shine brighter as our Spirit draws closer to home. In the meantime you are children of the Most High God.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship (daughtership!) And by Him we cry, “Abba Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16

     These Words of love are from your Father. The word, “Abba” is most closely interpreted as “daddy.” Such an intimate relationship with God. We are daughters and sons, adopted and chosen, loved without measure. I pray as the Words above state, that your spirit testifies with the Holy Spirit today that you are a child of God.

     And we cry, “Abba!” throughout the day, when we need a kind Word, or a soft shoulder, or a place to weep, a joy to share, an anxiety to quiet, some needed advice, the warmth of the Son. He is available anytime, anywhere, every second of every day. Go to your heavenly daddy and seek Him right now.

Jesus,

You want an intimate relationship with each one of us. The word “daddy” is a precious one to us. We come to You as Your children, adopted and wanted, We are precious in Your sight. Jesus loves the children of the world.

Amen

One Day

     The magnitude and magnificence of God is displayed in His creation. Our minds find it impossible to wrap around the enormity of the universe and the millions of stars that dot the sky for us at night. The sun, in its warmth and brightness, is strung at just the right distance from the earth. A bit closer and we would combust, a bit farther away and we would freeze. We can’t deny perfect design in action.

     The earth and all that is in it was created for us and when we fell, the creation fell with us. Just as we wait and yearn for so much more, creation is groaning along with us.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to this present time. Romans 8:22

    One day, because of Christ, we will live forever in perfect harmony with creation in a new heaven and a new earth.

That the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.  Romans 8:21

     Isaiah saw this perfected earth through the Spirit of God. We can only imagine:

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear; their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.  Isaiah 11:6-8

     One day. No more violence. No more predators even in the animal kingdom. We will live forever, with perfect harmony, filled with joy and peace and glory. The glory of the Son will surround us. Wait expectantly, patiently, purposefully, lovingly. Come Lord Jesus.

Father,

We appreciate all of creation today and wait for the day when all will live in harmony, with no more decay or despair or fear and trepidation. We thank you for Your Word that fills us with hope.

In Jesus name

Amen

Perfect Love

     Christians can be perceived as judgmental, the moral authority, asking for good behavior while pointing out the bad. If that is true, we have it backwards. Our job is to point to Jesus. Our lives should be different because of His love for us. Jesus meets us right where we are and tells us He has loved us with an everlasting love.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

     When we accept the Gospel and ask Him into our lives, the change begins. Miraculously, we have a hunger and a thirst for the things of God. The Scripture is opened up to us in a new way and the Holy Spirit begins to lead us and change us and teach us in ways we could not imagine on our own.

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

     Relax into the Spirit. Receive His love and listen for His voice. It is not a demanding voice or a condemning voice. It is filled with loving kindness, slow to anger and covered with an abiding and everlasting love. We don’t deserve it. None of us, but He gave it to us willingly, sacrificially, asking for nothing in return. Except to believe.

     The human language finds it hard to decipher and translate unconditional love. We want to get back what we give. Even-steven. But not God. He gave us the kingdom. It belongs to us for the asking. And the power of heaven and earth will be given to us through Him. It’s Jesus.

Hallelujah and Amen!