Kind Tenderhearted Forgiving

 

     God’s loving kindness has formed us with an everlasting love. Through that love, we grow in His Spiritual fruit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control do not come easily. As humans, we fail every day, but God never gives up on us, giving us His words to memorize and to follow.

     In the book of Ephesians, God reminds us of the actions and thoughts we should avoid.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31

     The following verse contrasts the verse we just read. How should we act?

Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as in Christ, God has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

     Kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. As I think of my grandkids, it’s pretty easy to follow these instructions. They have my heart, as do our daughters and sons-in-law and my husband, as well as my friends. Is there anyone you need to forgive? A challenging person in your life? I’m willing to try a little more kindness and forgiveness in my attitudes toward others. You, too?

Father,

Give us the opportunities to grow in our fruit, even when it is difficult. Help us to be examples in the crazy world around us, showing kindness and forgiveness. Guide us into the Scriptures we need.

In Jesus name,

Amen    

 

Healthy Spiritual Fruit

 

     As we follow the example of Jesus, and walk humbly with God, our actions, our thoughts, our lives, will begin to transition. When we are rooted in faith, we will grow the healthy fruit of the Spirit.

“I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5

     What, exactly, is this healthy fruit of the Spirit? Let the Bible explain. Read through the list of fruit in the following Scriptures and think about what might need some pruning. God may place a few challenges in front of us to grow His kind of fruit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

     This healthy fruit will follow us into eternity. The fruit is meant to be shared with others. And most of all, offered up to God, for His glory. Praise Him today with the fruit of your lips.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that openly profess His name. Hebrews 13:15

Father,

We are ready for the gardener’s help. Before you need to lop off an entire brach, please prune what needs to go and allow us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit. We offer praise in the name of Jesus.

Amen

 

Loving Kindness

 

     There have been reminders, remarks and verses about kindness brought to my attention over the last two weeks. Our grandson, Grayson, received a gift from his teacher because of his kindness. With everything going on around us, the hate speech, the violence, the fractures within family and friends, I thought it was time to see what the Bible has to say about being kind.

     It all begins with God, of course. God’s loving kindness formed us. He loves us and created us. Here is a beautiful verse for us today.

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

     God’s great loving kindness for us brought us Jesus, the Savior of our souls. What does the prophet, Micah, say about what God desires from us in response to this great love?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

     As we walk humbly with God, He will lead us to kindness and mercy. Let His loving kindness affect you today.

Father,

We thank You for Your eternal love and kindness. Show us how to pass it along to those around us. Jesus showed us the way.

Amen

Jesus Changes Everything

 

     This upside-down life with Jesus isn’t always easy to navigate. Life happens when we least expect it. Jesus will never leave us. His comfort and hope transcend our emotions. We can and should give up trying to control everything in our lives.

     As we age, new trials and challenges begin to face us. Getting old is not for sissies, as my 92-year-old neighbor usesd to say. Friends and family move on to heaven when we aren’t ready. Life without them is impossible, until we take one hesitant step. We find ourselves able to smile at the memories. We rejoice they are with Jesus.

     Our bodies begin to fail us, as our sight and hearing diminish, our knees and joints ache, and other health issues arise. My prayer list grows with each passing year. But, Jesus changes everything.

     Jesus changes everything. That was the name I chose for my blog twelve years ago. I began with the hope of writing one devotion each day for a year. It seemed a daunting task. Here I am all of these years later. He has certainly changed me and I am grateful for the time I spend with Him each early morning.

     For all of my older friends and family, we are in this together. Let’s keep praying for each other as we move closer to our heavenly home. The longing increases with each year, but life is so precious. Remember what awaits us and find hope.

     Praise Him. Humble yourselves before Him. Let Him work through your flaws and weaknesses. Allow Him to carry you when life is too tough. He is able to turn your world upside down. He walks us through our changes.

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

     He changes us from the inside out. But remember, He is steadfast. He never changes.

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

Jesus,

Thank You for Your constant presence, for Your unchanging love and thank You for never giving up on us. Show us the way today and each day ahead. We praise You.

Amen

Gratitude

 

     Today we take our upside down, last is first, less is more, honor in humility, weakness is strength, believer’s world into the topic of gratitude. Have you read, “Footprints in the Sand?” Looking back, I now recognize those times where Jesus was carrying me even when I did not sense His presence or feel His arms around me. I am still learning, but even during troubled times, I thank Him. When there are no answers, I thank Him for working. When things look hopeless, I know He will bring hope.

     My emotions and my need for control try to take over. I want to make it better, fix the problem, lash out at someone or something. The learning will never end, will it, until we are in heaven? Years ago, a sweet woman I visited in hospice, thanked God for every breath, even in the deepest pain, right up until her very last breath of life. I recently heard the story of an older woman of faith walking in circles around her daughter’s casket, praising and thanking God for allowing her to raise this beautiful child and praising Him for the gift of heaven. Trusting God even with our children? Thanking Him when the world is closing in? Believing in His timing when our patience is wearing thin? Thanking Him when the circumstances we are in will last for what seems an eternity? Practice gratitude. God’s grace is enough to get through the day.

     Can we learn to stop in the midst of an overwhelming day to thank God for our ordinary tasks and duties as we perform them one more time? Can we take a moment away from the seemingly endless urgent details to savor our most valuable God? Can we thank Him for working when we don’t see His hand? We can find a deeper intimacy with Jesus. We can! I thank God for each one of you today, no matter where you are in your journey with Jesus. He hears you. He will carry you. Give Him all of your cares with deep thanksgiving.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and yur minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dear Jesus,

Grant us an attitude of gratitude today for Your love, for Your mighty hand at work, for Your grace and mercy, for our loved ones and our homes, for our food and for our very lives. Thank You for the breath of life today, and thank You for the eternity that awaits tomorrow.

Amen

 

Humble Hearts

 

     The first time I really sought out God I was on my knees. It was a time of deep grief, confounding disbelief and overwhelming doubt. I fell to my knees, because I had nowhere else to go. When I hear of a loss, or a prayer request, a tragedy, or of someone’s suffering, my first prayer now, in addition to requests for healing or comfort or peace is to ask that the person gets to know Jesus.

     Going to our knees is not always a choice for us. Sometimes it becomes the only place left. For me, after all of these years, it is the place I choose to go first. There is nothing in the entire world better than being in the holy presence of God. Humility comes by recognizing who God is and how much we need Him.

     Do you remember what happens after we become filled with pride?

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  Proverbs 18:18

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  Proverbs 11:2

     When we fall or stumble, our merciful God has an answer for that, too.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  James 4:10

      On the one hand, we can become puffed up with pride, saying, “Look what I did! I did an amazing job! I am wonderful!” Or, on the other hand, we can get to a place where we say, “I can’t do anything right. What is wrong with me? I am worthless.”

     Both of these attitudes are lies from our enemy, Satan. Both attitudes are, in reality, self-focused. With God’s help, we take the focus off of ourselves and put our eyes on Him and on others. That is all He asks of us. It is our purpose, it is our call. Serving God and serving others. Everything is upside down in God’s world. First is last, the least is the greatest.

Then He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:48

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10

    Impossible on our own? Yes. Possible with the One who lifts us up and sends us out? You betcha!

Dear Lord,

Give us humble hearts today. Take our focus off of ourselves and allow us to lift others up in Your name. We can do it with You!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

The Potter and the Clay

 

     I have shared this story with you before. It is worth sharing again. A water bearer, living long ago, walked to a well each morning to gather water for his master’s house. He hung a long pole across his neck with a pot on either end. One of the pots was perfect in every way. Over the years this perfect pot was puffed up with pride, congratulating himself on a job well done. The other pot, has a few cracks and flaws. He was growing more and more humiliated over time. 

     One day the cracked pot spoke up, “Sir, why do you continue to use me? With my large cracks, I am only half full of water by the time we reach the master’s house.” The water bearer looked at the cracked pot with kindness and compassion and said, “I knew you before I placed you on the end of my pole for the very first time. I planted seeds along the way. Notice the wide array of flowers on your side of the path. You have faithfully watered them and now the master has a beautiful view and fresh flowers for his table.” (Author Unknown)

     Isn’t this a beautiful story? And aren’t we all cracked pots? God uses our weaknesses and our flaws to show His glory. Through our weaknesses He is made strong. His light is visible through our weakest parts.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

     When we fall to pieces, when we accept our flaws, God begins to work. He is the potter. He just may leave a crack or two in place. That just allows His light to shine through. When other people see what you are doing, they will say, “How can he/she do that?” And the only answer will be, “It’s not me. It’s God. It’s Jesus at work.”  He is ready to make all of those dents and dings and holes and cracks work for Him. Our tests become our testimonies. Our messes become our messages.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

     God chose me and He chose you. He chooses the cracked pots, the jars ready for the potter’s hand, the weak and the foolish ones to show Him off.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  1 Corinthians 1:27

     Well, you cracked pots, you foolish and weak things, let’s go show off our new jars of clay, the ones with the light shining through. Let’s confound some of those perfect pots. We have an amazing God.

Dear Father in Heaven,

Only You can bring such beauty to these cracked jars of clay. Fill us with Your confidence as You create something beautiful out of our weakest parts. Create new treasures in these jars of clay. We can do it with Jesus.

Amen