Favorites

     One of my favorite daughters is getting married next summer. She will choose her favorite people to be there, her favorite friends to stand by her side (including her favorite sister) and pick some of her favorite songs for the day. God is so good to give us these celebrations that remain forever etched in our hearts as some of our “favorite” days!

     What are some of your favorite days? Most will include the people we love. Our wedding, the birth of our babies and grandbabies, the weddings and celebrations of our friends and families, favorite vacations and favorite places. One of my favorite places is Lake Nokomis. I never tire of taking walks, going to the beach and reliving one favorite moment after another, from childhood until today.

     Along with Jesus being our favorite, we can choose the day we accepted Him as Savior as our very favorite moment. This is the moment we began our journey with Him, the moment the Holy Spirit entered, the day we knew we are a child of God, the moment we knew for a fact, we will be in eternity with God!

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13

     The very best moment, a moment to be savored, our utmost favorite, the day of our salvation.

Jesus,

Thank You for saving us from death, from living for eternity apart from You. We pray for this moment to be shared with others, that they, too, may believe in the one true God.

Amen

Favorites

     With all of the examples in Scripture of fallen human beings like us, do you have a favorite story or a favorite person in Biblical history, that has taught you a valuable lesson? Peter spoke without thinking, yet Jesus forgave him and used him in mighty ways. Paul was an enemy of the church and God transformed him to become the greatest evangelist of all time. He wrote most of the New Testament.

     Daniel remained true to God, even as a young man in enemy territory, refusing to bow down to the king. God protected him, even from death in the lion’s den.  Ruth stayed true to her mother-in-law  after their husbands died, making the decision to remain in a strange land, God guided her into new love and hope. Moses began his ministry at age 80. Caleb was one of only two Jewish men from the original group of millions to make it into the promised land, still full of strength and passion at an old age. Joseph was betrayed by all of his brothers, and years later, had the opportunity to save them from starving and to offer forgiveness. The list goes on and on. Become familiar with all of the great stories of real men and women, like you and me.

     Jesus is our redeemer and everything from Genesis to Revelation points to Him, to His forgiveness, to His ability to redeem and restore, to His gift of eternal life. I am looking forward to spending time with my favorites in heaven.

     One of my questions to Paul will be, “What was the thorn in your side that God did not heal?”  He found strength in his weakness and many have pondered the meaning of the thorn. He was a writer and I believe he may have suffered some sort of blindness, just like me. He mentions his friends being willing to give him their eyes (Galatians 4:15) and that he wrote in his own hand in large letters.

See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand? Galatians 6:11

     Isn’t that amazing? It brings me comfort. Who do you identify with in the Bible? Do you have a favorite?  The opportunitiy to meet them and speak with them will be here soon. We can take all the time in the universe to meet all of our favorites!

Father,

Thank You for Biblical examples. All of them had flaws and frailties, just as we do. You can use us, just as You used them to change the world. We identify with the real stories of the ancient paths in Your Word. (Jeremiah 6:16)

In Jesus name,

Amen

Favorites

     As you think about our favorite things in life, think about your favorite Bible verses. It’s hard to choose, isn’t it? The list could to on and on. Whether you find yourself content or unsettled, whether joy-filled or filled with sorrow, whether angry or peaceful, there are Scripture verses to meet you right where you are.

     Think about your needs today. Find a verse, just for you. God speaks truth through His Word. His Word is precious, more valuable than silver or gold. (Psalm 119) Today, I am thinking about getting ready for company. Cleaning, cooking and getting everything ready can keep me in a fretful mood. (Hospitality is not one of my spiritual gifts!) Here are Scriptures written for me, spoken by Jesus Himself:

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

     This is just one of many Scriptures that warn us about worrying. It robs us of the joy of today. Everything will get done. I take comfort in these words. How about you? Take a minute to pray and think about your circumstances for the day. What is next? What do you need from God’s Word? He is ready to meet you and talk to you. Just the two of you together, ready to meet the day. Maybe you will find a new favorite Scripture!

Jesus,

Thank You for the Word that brings life to our souls. You tell us not to worry about the surface issues in life. You meet us in the deep recesses of our souls, wherever we are, wherever we are going. Thank You for Your precious Word that speaks to our hearts.

Amen

Favorites

     My friends tease me because I always use the word, “favorite.”  The definition of favorite includes, “preferred before all others of the same kind,” I guess they are right to tease. My favorite dessert is ice cream or cheesecake or apple pie. Each of my daughters is my favorite one!

     Above all else, yes, my one special favorite is, of course, Jesus. He trumps my favorite husband, my favorite kids and my favorite grandson, and my favorite friends, (each one my special favorite) I am blessed to have so many “favorites” in my life. And God has given me each one to treasure, but He needs to be first.

     When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, here is His answer:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 22:30-31

     God first. Everyone else second. All special favorites. One is above all else. It is Jesus.

Lord,

We love You with all of our mind, our soul and our strength. You encompass all of the favorites around us. You are in everything. Help us to keep You first each day, at the top of our favorites list. And we thank You for the blessings of all of the other favorites in our lives.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Memorable moments

     Our memorable moments bring reminiscent smiles and regretful tears. They bring heartache and excitement. Life lived with Jesus brings us something precious, more precious than gold. He gives us grateful hearts for the breath of life each morning. He is the perfect parent, the great comforter, the healer of our souls. And most precious of all of His gifts, He offers heaven, eternity with Him.

     Keep track of His work in your life as you journey on. You will notice the little ways in which He answers your heart. You will find opportunities to bless others in His name.

     The greatest gift we have to offer is to bring glory to His precious name. Our faith pleases Him. Because He has given so much to us, we have an abundant supply of love to give away. Let His love flow like living water through you.

     Jesus taught the woman at the well about this gift.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” “Sir”, the woman said, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?”  “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. 4:10-11, 14

   Later on, in the 7^th Chapter of John, Jesus explains that this living water is the Holy Spirit, given to those who will believe in Him Is the living water flowing through you from Jesus? Fill up on it in His Word. Drink deeply from His love. Take in the nourishment He offers. It is life.

Lord,

Thank You for each memorable moment You give us. Fill us to the brim until we overflow with the living water of the Holy Spirit. We are Your beloved children, and we long for more brothers and sisters. Let us bring Your deep joy with us wherever we go.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Memorable Moments

     Some of our most memorable moments include deep suffering. The moment you lost a loved one, faced a diagnosis, lost a job, lost a relationship. The list goes on and on. Did you know, with Jesus, we can never lose our spiritual joy?

     The joy of the Lord remains throughout our lives, no matter the circumstances. You may believe you have lost it, but it is there. His hope is eternal. His love is forever. Even through suffering, He brings good. He renews our faith. He surrounds us with people to love us. He gives us wisdom to share. Here are Scriptures written by James and by Peter that remind us of the value in trials.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of great worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Christ Jesus is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

     We do have a choice to choose joy. Not easy. The joy of the Lord does not mean we will not grieve. We do. It doesn’t mean life will be easy. It isn’t. But we have Jesus. That changes everything. Allow His joy to replace bitterness, anger and sorrow. Allow Him to comfort you and rejoice.

     As Paul sat in prison, ready to face death, he wrote these words.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Lord,

Your joy is deep and unending. Give us an abundant share of it today. Even though we will go through trials in our lives, You are faithful.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Memorable Moments

     As we reminisce this week and thank God for memories, for friends and for family, let’s think about sweet moments with God. I bet we will be surprised in heaven to learn how many times He and His angels protected us, at the times He grieved with us, or rejoiced with us and for the prayers He answered.

     Has He answered a special prayer immediately? Or have you waited patiently, not believing He even listened, only to discover years later, He was there all along. I believe I have been the closest to Christ during my times of great sadness and worry. Those times bring us to our knees as we beg to understand And He offers everything we need to hold unto. And, He is enough.

     Have you felt His presence in a real way during worship>? Been overwhelmed with His love? Stuck up for Him when others don’t believe? There are so many moments, and as we age, we recognize Him more and more. He is involved and He is everywhere.

     Celebrate your God moments today. Think back to prayers answered, to believing the sufficiency of His grace, to feeling His presence throughout the day, for the people He has brought into your life, for the peace He offers in the midst of chaos. God is good all the time.

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

I remain confident of this. I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27;13

Lord,

We celebrate You today, for the moments we share, for the hope you bring, for the trust You develop, for the love that never ends. Your goodness follows us all of the days of our lives. We are confident. You are good.

In Jesus name,

Amen