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(January 22, 2025)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has set eternity in the human heart—Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

When God created the world, everything was good and the crown of His creation, Adam and Eve were beautiful, wondrously and flawlessly made. Not only were they physically beautiful their heart and soul were pure and without corruption or darkness. 

When Satan entered the serpent, his purpose was to not only disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the Garden but rule over God’s creation. He felt certain if he succeeded in getting Adam and Eve to doubt and disobey God, he would have the victory and destroy the loving relationship between God man. He wanted to drive a wedge so deep between God and His creation that it could not be healed or repaired. 

It may be hard to believe that Satan (Lucifer) started out as a beautiful angel in heaven leading praise and worship. Hard to believe the one who is the father of lies, stirs hatred, causes division, breathes ugliness once had a beautiful heart full of love and adoration for God. In the end, it was not enough for Satan to lead praise and worship, to be the bright Day Star, he wanted to exalt himself above God and be the one praised and worshiped. Isaiah wrote,

How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12)

When Satan sinned in heaven, he lost his place in heaven, and he lost his beauty. When we sinned against God, we lost not only our outer beauty but the beauty and purity of our heart and soul. Just as Peter instructed, no matter how hard we work at it, no matter how much time we spend on our outer appearance, no amount of outward adornment would restore our pure and beautiful heart. Peter reminds us,

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (I Peter3:3-4). That’s not only for women, but everyone. 

Jesus took our sin to the cross and shed His blood so we could be restored as the Father’s beautiful creation. His righteousness is now ours when we believe in Him, and that’s the righteousness God sees when He looks at us. The loving relationship we enjoy with the Son, filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit, transforms our worldly heart to become like the Son’s. 

Just as Solomon said, (outward) beauty is fleeting. The only beauty worth cultivating and desiring is the inner, heart and soul beauty which lasts for an eternity. When we put our faith in Jesus and give Him our heart He will transform our worldly heart, our corrupt, our lying heart, our hating heart, our deceptive heart, our sinful and disobedient heart, into a beautiful heart like His. 

Thank You, God for sending Jesus. Through His death as the perfect Lamb of God we have been restored and made beautiful once more. 

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible

Proverbs 31:30

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting. 

Song of Songs 4:7

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

(January 21, 2025)

Jesus, the Holy One, makes us holy. And as sons and daughters, we now belong to his same father, so he is not ashamed or embarrassed to introduce us as his brothers and sisters!—Hebrews 2:11 (TPT)

Our need to belong is strong. Whether it’s to a person, a group of people, a special club or elsewhere, we want to belong. No one wants to belong nowhere.

Can you think of anyone better to belong to than God? The amazing thing is that God is not ashamed to claim us as His own. Considering the fact that we are incurably sinful and disobedient we’re not always a joy to have in-family. Some would describe us as the “black sheep” of the family. Those people you are not always so proud to introduce or claim as family.

This makes me remember an uncle I was especially fond of growing up. Uncle Gentry was one of the best people you could know. Unfortunately, he was deeply wounded as a result of such a traumatic childhood and could only take life in spurts. When Uncle Gentry was doing well, he visited with family. He might camp out at your house for days or even weeks at a time. He made us laugh. He was interactive and pleasant to be around, a very good and caring uncle. But when uncle Gentry wasn’t in a good place emotionally he would disappear for weeks, even months. 

While in high school I was walking up the library steps, chatting with a good friend when I spotted uncle Gentry. Any other day I might have been excited to see my dear uncle but that day I was ashamed of him. Uncle Gentry wasn’t going into the library as we were. He wasn’t even coming out of the library with a stack of books under his arm. Uncle Gentry was lying on the library steps. In that instant I wasn’t sure what to do. Sadly, I didn’t claim my uncle but walked past him. Several weeks later uncle Gentry showed up at our home and I shared the experience with him. He said, “I don’t blame you sweetie. I wouldn’t have claimed me either!”     

God claims us. Even when He finds us in the most compromising and embarrassing situations, He still claims us. Even with all our issues and incorrigible ways we still belong to God. God’s seen us at our very worst and seen us doing things we’d never tell another living soul yet, yet He still claims us. 

Belonging to God comes with more benefits than we could count or name over a lifetime. God promises to take special care of those who belong to Him. Those  who are part of God’s family enjoy God’s healing, God’s forgiveness, God’s immeasurable love, God’s grace and mercy, God’s protection, and at the end of our earthly life we enjoy an eternity in His presence. The covenant relationship god established with His children long ago is His banner over us today: we are God’s people and He is our God. We belong to God and He belongs to us!

Dear God, thank You for claiming us. Even at our very worst You claim us! Nothing is better or more satisfying than knowing we belong to You!       

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible

Jeremiah 30:22 (HCSB)

You will be my people, and I will be your God.

Luke 10:20 (TPT)

However, your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written I the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.   

(January 20, 2025)

  He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”—2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV)

In this life we can have all kinds of battles. Some battles are with people who have declared themselves our enemies or opponents. Some battles are physical where we are battling maladies that want to steal or diminish our wellbeing. Some battles are with our mental and emotional health. Some battles are financial. Some battles have to do with our relationships. It has been said no matter what we call or name our battle all battles are spiritual in nature. This could be a profound truth leading to change and transformation when we believe and accept it. 

Every level and kind of battle is serious. Some take longer to win than others. And some may require more perseverance and patience than others. But the Bible promises that with God we can experience victory over any opposition that comes our way.

King David knew what it felt like to be victorious in battle. David was not only a great king, but he was also a great warrior. Even as a young shepherd boy, watching over his father Jesse’s sheep David refused to be overcome by any enemy. On the day he fought against the giant man Goliath king Saul wondered if the scrawny lad was up to such a battle with the giant Philistine Goliath. David told Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock, I went out after it and attacked it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I grabbed it by its mane and struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God” (I Samuel 17:34-36). David wasn‘t cocky. He was confident in the Lord, his God.

“Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s” is a good empowering, encouraging, strengthening word from God we can keep front and center when we’re going through any kind of battle in life. God’s promise will keep us strengthened on the battlefield. It will keep us from living in fear. It will keep us from feeling powerless against giants. It will keep us in good spirits and from living with an attitude and mindset of defeat and hopelessness. 

God wants us to be assured we can win our battles. We can be victorious not because of our own strength but because we know we have God on our side. He wants us to share the good word we have from Him with others who are feeling powerless and unable to be victorious in battle. 

God, when we know that You are on our side standing on the battlefield with us, we can approach our battles confidently. Recently I’ve been feeling defeated in my battle with…but I will keep this mighty, freeing, and empowering promise in mind, knowing the battle isn’t mind but Yours. 

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible:

Isaiah 54:17 

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servant of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.” 

Deuteronomy 3:22

You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.”

(January 18/19, 2025)

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes”—Mark 9:23 (NKJV) 

The Bible contains many promises about the special blessings that come to those who believe God. Believing in what God says is different from believing in God since it’s entirely possible to have faith that God exists and still not believe in what He says and promises through His word.

How often Jesus told the disciples not to be spiritually dull or slow of heart. In spite of all that had passed, all the miracles they had witnessed, the teaching they had heard they still did not seem to grasp the power of Jesus to do all things. “Are you still so dull, do you still not understand?” (Matt. 15:16). Jesus knew there was spiritual power and blessings for those who believed without reservation or skepticism.  

Abraham believed God and His faith in God’s promise to give him an heir was counted to him as righteousness. Because Abraham believed the word of God, God promised Abraham his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. 

The connection between belief and healing, belief and blessings emphasize the need for unwavering trust in what God says. When we believe in something we can live with assurance and confidence. We are not plagued with doubt or fear or hesitation. When we believe what the Lord has spoken, declared in His word, what the Spirit is whispering and directing us, we take steps of faith, not based upon what we see, but what we know our God is able to do. Our God is not a man that He would lie (Num. 23:19) but holy, righteous God that does not deceive or fail to produce what He’s promised. 

When we believe what God says the result is often dramatic and recognizable change in our life and circumstances. Just as Abraham’s belief was rewarded and credited to him as righteousness that same blessing is ours today.

God, thank You for every word that comes from Your mouth. Increase our belief in what You say so there is no doubt and no hesitation to step out on faith. Amen

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible

Gensis 15:6 (NIV)

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Isaiah 28:16 (HCSB)

Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.”    

(January 17, 2025)

Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going as far a actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross—Philippians 2:5-8, TLB 

A positive attitude can change everything. The Bible highlights how not only our mindset but our attitude can affect our daily life and circumstances. At times we will enter chaotic or hostile atmospheres. We can set our mind to either contribute to the atmosphere as it is or introduce something different. We can choose to let the Jesus in us infect the atmosphere and attitudes around us.

Reflecting on our attitude is a vital aspect of Christian living, as it directly influences our relationship with God, others, and ourselves.  

The importance of maintaining a Christ-like attitude, emphasizes humility, gratitude, and love. The Bible teaches us we should “let our attitude be the same as Christ Jesus.” 

Jesus was a peaceful man. He was gracious and kind, thoughtful and considerate. Jesus was respectful—even though His enemies were often disrespectful, Jesus never treated them in the same way; Jesus may have spoken the truth, but He never demeaned them. Jesus kept a positive attitude throughout His life and ministry. You never read anything about Him being negative, pessimistic or given to lies and gossip. The integrity of Jesus made some uncomfortable and inspired others.   

If anyone could have demanded and dictated how things should go it was the Son of God. But Jesus chose the path of humility and consideration toward humanity. Just like His Father in heaven, Jesus never violated a person’s free will. They could receive or reject Him. Emulate His attitude or take an alternative thought and emotional path.  

In a teaching moment Jesus told His audience that the peace they embodied had power to change the atmosphere. Paul writes it was because of Jesus’ humble attitude that God raised him to the heights of heaven and gave Him a name which is above every other name: the very name of Jesus would cause all people to bow before Him in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Not only that, every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, all this to the lory of God the Father (Php. 2:9-11).

The Bible emphasizes the transformative power of positive thinking. When we focus on uplifting and constructive thoughts our attitudes are uplifted as well. 

Humility and kindness, compassion and love don’t begin without, they start within. A humble attitude can shift, not only our immediate surroundings but change us internally. When we’re humble and kind and gentle and forgiving, it does not mean we are pushovers. In fact, it takes confidence of self and knowing God is with us to maintain a right attitude in the midst of others.

God, when we adopt your attitude of kindness and humility, we reflect the unconditional love of Christ to those around us. Amen 

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible 

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he is. 

Romans 15:5

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.

(January 16, 2025)

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world—I John 2:1-2, NIV

Could there be any better news than what John writes to the children of God? Knowing our sins have been atoned for through Jesus Christ should give us the biggest sigh of relief and take away any anxiety about our eternity.

Jesus traveled from town to town, village to village healing the sick. Jesus fed the hungry. Jesus taught and preached on hillsides, and synagogues. Jesus set people free from demon possession. Jesus instructed His followers, chose and trained twelve Apostles to carry on His work. Jesus performed miracles and wonders, did all things out of the goodness, kindness, and compassion of His heart. And when Jesus died on the cross, He accomplished what no human could and no lamb or bull laid upon the altar of God could: Jesus completed the law and atoned for the sin of the world. 

Like so many things we do, once they are done, once we have made that step there is no turning back or around. Once Adam and Eve willingly disobeyed God there was nothing they could do to make things right. No amount of pleading, I’m sorry’s or regret could reverse what happened. They chose to listen to the devil, doubt God, and go their own way. They were no longer sinless and their eternity in heaven jeopardized, and relationship with God was marred. 

God no longer walked freely in their garden in the cool of the day or talked with them as He had before they sinned. God let them live. He still loved them and cared for them. But there was a rift in their relationship that no burnt offering or animal sacrifice could change. It would take nothing less than Jesus Christ becoming the atoning sacrifice to tear down the wall or close the chasm between us and God. 

For anyone who has ever worried about their eternity. Ever wondered if their prayers of repentance were enough. Ever wondered if their loved one “really made it into heaven” after they died. Ever felt skeptical about God removing their sin as far as the east is from the west, learning Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, became our sinless sacrifice and that His shed blood was enough, their heart should be at peace. Our heart can rejoice and be glad.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us,

Since the law was only a shadow of the good things to come it can never—by the same sacrifices which are continually offered every year—make perfect those who draw near…for it’s impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins…But when Christ died, He became the final, perfect sacrifice for sins (Heb. 10:1-14).       

In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (Eph. 1:7). We have been rescued from an eternity separated from God. We have been sanctified and redeemed. We now have access to the Father through the Son and are blessed to be heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Because Jesus obeyed the will of the Father and took our place, the Father sees us, not as sinful enemies, but as redeemed children covered with the righteousness of Jesus.

Thank You, God for sending Jesus and thank You, Jesus for obeying the Father and becoming our sinless sacrifice. Thank you for atoning for our sin! Amen     

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible:

Ezekiel 16:62-63 (NIV)

So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Numbers 15:25-26

The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering.26 The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.

(January 15, 2025)

  The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest—Exodus 33:14 (MSG)

Whether it’s regarding His power, love, forgiveness, character, covering, provision, protection, or presence, from Genesis to Revelation God provides the assurance we need. 

Just as James wrote in his letter “God comes near” (James 1:8) God comes near so we can be assured He is with us all the way, all the time. 

Even if we’re not very good with recognizing His footprints and fingerprints all over our situations and in our midst, even if we miss His whispers, we can open God’s Word and receive the assurance we need.

There are more than eight thousand promises recorded in the Bible. 

Promises that assure us God is with us, God is working things out for our good and His glory, God is everywhere present, God is sovereign and all-powerful, God is gracious and merciful, God is kind and compassionate, God is fixing, preparing, and arranging, God is healing and restoring.

The assurance of God gives us the confidence we need and helps us live and move with certainty about the character, Person and heart of God even in the face of worldly darkness and enemy activity. God pledges His love and helpfulness, and we learn His Word is the only guarantee needed. 

Humans may be spiritually leaky vessels easily and quickly forgetting what we just heard God say, saw Him do, or read in His word as soon as a new trial or storm enters but God is not forgetful, He is not in and out, hot and cold, God is consistent and constantly reminding us He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). 

Before we open our eyes in the morning, God’s has not only watched over but sang over us in our sleep (Zeph. 3:17) working healing and peace and wholeness while we rested. His love is unconditional and inexhaustible. Each day He lets us know our sins are forgiven, we are redeemed and our faith in Jesus as His Son, our Savior is all that’s needed to spend an eternity in heaven with Him.

Thank You, God for caring enough to reassure me daily You are not only the God of heaven and earth, supreme power and authority, but my own heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally and has forgiven me through the blood of Jesus Christ Your Son, my Lord and Savior. Amen      

Other places in the Bible you can read this promise

Genesis 18:14 (NIV)

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Numbers 23:19 (ESV)

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

(January 14, 2025)

Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.—Matthew 10:1 (NIV)

The Bible speaks extensively about power and authority. Through the Word of God we learn that all authority and power ultimately come from God. Whether it’s on earth or in heaven, or regarding our daily lives, God’s sovereignty is absolute and supreme. 

God gave absolute authority to Jesus and Jesus now delegates and entrusts His authority to believers, not for personal gain, but to be used for Gods glory and to accomplish the purposes of God on earth. 

When we serve Jesus, we operate under His divine authority and protection. Jesus delegates His authority to believers so they can overcome the enemy, resist spiritual attacks, have power to overcome problems and strength to stand firm in their faith. By relying on the strength of Jesus believers can live confidently and boldly, knowing the enemy’s power is not only contained but limited according to God’s purposes for our lives. God will even use the evil and poisonous arrows of the enemy to serve for our good. 

The Apostles had a task to do. Jesus had trained them to go into all the world and spread the Gospel. They were to share the love of Jesus and share all they had learned through their time with Him with others. They were to heal the sick and drive out demons. They were a target for the enemy who does not want people to be delivered or healed, empowered or learn of salvation through Jesus. Since these actions could not be accomplished under human ability, they needed supernatural authority, the authority of Jesus to fill and surround them.

Operating under the authority of Jesus we can live courageously and without fear because we know we have the divine power of Jesus filling and surrounding us. When we face challenges, trials and storms in our life we can rely upon the Holy Spirit to act boldly. The obstacles that ordinarily stop people, make them give up, and turn tail and run, do not overcome us because we know whose authority we are operating under, and no power or force in the universe or on earth has more authority than Jesus and whatever we do in the name and under the authority of Jesus is powerful and effective. 

Jesus, thank You for entrusting and delegating divine authority to those who believe in You and follow You. Knowing I operate through and under Your authority I can live confidently and boldly. I do not need to live in fear or be defeated by any enemy. Amen 

Other places in the Bible you can read this promise

Luke 10:19 (NLT)

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 

Matthew 16:19 (NIV)

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

(January 13, 2025)

  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”—Matthew 28:18

There is no power higher than Jesus. Jesus is the one who went to the cross to die for our sins and when He rose from the grave He rose with all power, not partial or limited, but all power. 

Because God has given Jesus all authority, He rules over all creation. Jesus has the authority to save and judge people and He can delegate His authority to His followers. When Jesus rose from the dead He declared His supreme authority over all creation. He has ultimate control in both heaven and on earth. There is no power on earth higher than Jesus. Satan is not more powerful than Jesus. The devil is not more powerful than Jesus. Demons nor any spiritual force are more powerful than Jesus is. And the storms in our life do not have authority over Jesus.      

Christ’s authority surpasses all others. Through Him we are made whole and empowered. Recognizing Christ’s lordship over all powers encourages us to trust Him fully and live boldly in His strength. We can have peace of mind and be strengthened in our heart. We are to live confidently and boldly, knowing Jesus has absolute authority. 

The early believers—those Jesus left in charge of spreading the Gospel and building the Chirstian Church—quickly learned what a powerful promise this is. They had no choice but to operate in what their risen Lord and Savior declared before He ascended into heaven. They quickly learned the same Jesus who performed miracles on earth when He was with them in the flesh, was the same powerful Lord, even though He was sitting at the right hand of God. 

Each time the Savior did something only He could do, their confidence of faith increased, and they became even bolder in their work. That’s what should happen with us today. Jesus will speak to whatever force or presence is attempting to keep us from the work or the place He wants us to be.   

We have direct, unlimited and uninterrupted access to our Savior and there is nothing we cannot ask of Him. There is no request or concern too minor for Jesus to take care of for us and there is nothing too large, and no power too great for Jesus to exert His authority.       

God, Your power is so vast You created myriad worlds in countless galaxies. You chose one small planet, earth, to create human life and those things which support human life and then You sent Your Son, Jesus to save us. Jessu rose from the dead with all authority to save and judge and delegate authority.    

Other places you can read this promise in your Bible

Luke 4:36

All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!’”

Revelation 12:10

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’”  

(January 11/12, 2025)

   Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth—Psalm 46:11 TPT

We’ve seen it played out in old movies, especially westerns where someone waves the white flag out the window. They recognize they are outnumbered, have no chance of coming out alive or being in control of the situation. Some might equate surrendering to weakness and pitiful, but it takes courage and wisdom to know when the very wisest and best move we can make is to surrender.

Neither willpower nor having a (more) positive outlook will cure our anxiety. That’s one battle we cannot fight alone or through human methods or strategies. That’s because anxiety isn’t just an emotion, it’s a state of being, a state of uneasiness or fear that arises from within often due to external circumstances or perceived outcomes. 

In the beginning, anxiety appears manageable—it may appear manageable enough—but given a little room and ignored or pushed down, it can become stronger and take up more space until it completely takes over. Like the encroaching plant kudzu it creeps and covers, demanding more oxygen and energy. Eventually it will become our master, giving us our orders for the day, controlling what we can and cannot do or accomplish.   

David says the best way to deal with anxiety is to confront it and surrender it to the Lord. In Psalm 55:22 David writes, “Cast your burden on the LORD and He will sustain you. God takes whatever is too strong for us, too big and powerful, too weighty for us to bear alone and lightens our load.  

God doesn’t judge us for not being able to handle or cure our anxiety one our own. God doesn’t counsel us to pretend we don’t feel anxious at times, and He doesn’t require us to try our own strategies, first, before turning to Him for help. Lovingly and graciously our God says are you anxious? Surrender it. Cast our heavy burden of anxiety on Him and let Him lift us out from under the heavy cloud. God will point us to the resources of His Word and the resources of people who are trained to help us heal. God will provide a light in our darkness. 

God, though our world is falling to pieces, and it seems life itself is crumbling around us we don’t have to be afraid. The anxiety that been mounting and controlling us can be surrendered to You. Thank You for the promise of ease and healing. Amen          

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible

I Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Luke 12:22-23 (TPT)

Listen to me. Never let anxiety enter your hearts. Never worry about any lf your needs, such as food or clothing. For your life is infinitely more than just food or he clothing you wear.”  

(January 10, 2025)

 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense—Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)

How often have you heard someone say, “I just can’t control my anger.” Anger is a strong emotion that has been entrusted to us by God. In the right conditions anger can produce something good and serve us for righteousness. We must train ourselves to control our anger and make sure we do not become a slave to this strong emotion. 

One of my favorite authors shares a personal, albeit painful testimony about the way uncontrolled anger can change your life and ruin your future. Several decades ago her son was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison after a fight with his fiancés ex-husband ended with the ex-husband dying after a severe blow to the head. The jury felt the author’s son could have avoided the fight by walking away. Sadly, giving in to his anger for only one moment changed the course of his and his family’s future.    

The Bible has much to teach us about anger. God doesn’t leave any subject unaddressed. God’s an expert at controlling anger, for which we should be grateful. Because God does not allow His anger to control Him but is merciful toward us, we are not consumed (Lam. 3:22-23). God’s servant Nehemiah rejoiced that God is slow to anger and ready to pardon our sinful ways (Neh. 9:17). We might shudder to imagine what would happen to us if God had neither the ability nor desire to control His anger. There would be no hope for us.

Solomon advises that our anger be measured, and it makes good sense to overlook offenses against us. In another chapter of Proverbs Solomon suggests that our response to harsh words towards us should be gentleness; this would certainly catch our offender off guard. Responding in gentleness, blessing when we have been cursed, takes a great deal of self-control and desire to please God in all our actions and attitude.    

When we’re in control of our strong emotion anger, we don’t have to worry about sinning against God or walking in dishonor. Controlling our anger—even in the heat of the moment—gives us a chance to hear from God, a chance to think about the consequences or possible outcome of uncontrolled anger and gives us time to call upon the Holy Spirit to help us respond in a way that’s acceptable to God so we can walk away at peace with ourselves and free of God’s judgment. When we control our anger, we give God room to use us and use the situation to bring Him glory. Controlling our anger—even when its justified—positions us for blessing and favor. 

When we control our anger, we have glorified God and snatched the crumb of victory from our enemy’s mouth.

Lord, thank You for this reminder that we are in control of our emotions. We can control our anger and in turn we take power away from the enemy to bring destruction and dishonor into our life. Amen  

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible 

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare

James 1:19-20 (NLT)

So then, my dearest brothers and sisters, take this to heart; Be quick to listen, but slow to speak. And be slow to become angry, for human anger is never a legitimate tool to promote God’s righteous purpose.  

(January 9, 2025)

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure—Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

It was a heartwarming story: man given up for adoption as a baby reunited with his birth mother when he was 50 and she was 67. Given today’s advanced technology and ways to locate long-lost family it’s not uncommon to learn of such reconnections. What makes this reunion so miraculous is that Hunter had been a regular customer in his birth mother’s bakery for more than a decade. The two completely unaware of their connection until recently. Hunter was a regular at the bakery, not just because the pancakes were the best, but because he felt a sense of belonging. Not long ago, Lindsey suffered a stroke. Now she and her biological son work together at the bakery. Hunter’s specialty is baking cakes and Lindsey says, he is even better at making cakes then she is! 

Thank God for the blessed reunion between biological mother and son. Thank God also for the adoptive parents that not brought Hunter into their family, but all those who make room in their home and heart, giving the father and motherless not only a name, but a family, a sense of belonging. Adoptive parents are special people who have big hearts, willing to provide covering for those who don’t have a biological parent to care for them.    

When my mother died even though I was an adult, married with children of my own. I felt a sense of aloneness. And when my husband’s parents died even though he was in his forties at the time, he often said he felt like running an ad in the newspaper: orphan in need of parents. It’s been said when we lose a child to death, we lose the future and when we lose our parents through their death we lose our past. Being parentless can make us feel like there is no covering for us. No protection against the world. Without parent-covering we may feel alone and untethered.    

Paul reminds us that from the beginning God had an ingenious plan. Even though sin had cut us off from God, God would become our adoptive Father. God would send His Son Jesus to become the perfect sacrifice that opens the way for us to enter in. Through Holy Baptism we can come back to the family. We can share all that belongs to the Son, Jesus. Paul writes, “If we are children of God, then we are heirs of God and so-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). 

Through faith in Jesus, by virtue of the adoption we are entitled to the spiritual inheritance of the Father. By virtue of the adoption, we are heirs and co-heirs.  

Whether we have biological parents who stay with us on our journey. Biological parents to raise and train us up in the way we should go. Biological parents to lend their wisdom, provide for our physical, material, and emotional needs, help us grow in stature and wisdom, we have a heavenly Father. We belong. We have a family. We have all the rights and benefits of those naturally born into the family. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for your ingenious plan to adopt us. Bringing us into the family of God through faith in Jesus, and Holy Baptism we become heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior. Because You have adopted us, we have a rich inheritance. Amen  

Other places you can read this promise in the Bible:

2 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)

I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.

I John 3:1 (MSG)

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. 

(January 8, 2025)

Remember the prophecy God gave in Hosea: “To those who were rejected and not my people, I will say to them: ‘You are mine.’ And to those who were unloved I will say: ‘You are my darling.’”—Romans 9:25, TPT

We apply for membership in an exclusive club, fill out a job or college application, send a “friend” invite to one someone from one of the social media platforms and wait eagerly, sometimes nervously, to see if we‘re accepted. Will they like us? Do we have enough impressive credentials to make the grade? Do we measure up to their standards? 

The question behind it all is “Are we good enough?” Sometimes, when we receive positive confirmation, we are elated. We are good enough after all! But at times the response is “no.” And even though we should know better, we beat ourselves up. We question our worth. We wonder why we’re not “good enough” to be accepted.

Paul reminds God’s children to remember the promise God made to His special creation as far back as Hosea—and even before—they would be His “special treasure above all people.” God accepts us even when we are rejected by others. God opens His heart and spreads the wide span of His wings and gathers us to Himself. 

With all our flaws and shortcomings, all our inadequacies and the things that people cannot tolerate or bear, God accepts us.  

Who has rejected you? Let you know (in so many words or directly) you are not good enough? Who has made you feel inferior or inadequate? Inept? God says, never mind. Don’t let that get you down or keep you from feeling joy and valuable, He accepts you and recognizes you as valuable and worthy.

Somewhere along the road of life we will experience rejection. 

At some point and in some places, we won’t be accepted. 

Instead of being devastated or crushed we can keep a sound perspective. People and places and institutions may reject us but God, the King of kings and LORD of lords, the Great and Mighty I AM, Creator of heaven and earth has taken us under His righteous, loving, healing wing. We may be rejected in this world, but God accepts us and that’s all that matters. In the end, that’s the only acceptance that counts and carries eternal weight.

Thank You God for sending Jesus to live and die in my place. His life and death secured my acceptance. I am covered by His blood and receive His righteousness as my own. Amen     

Other places in the Bible you can read this promise:

Romans 8:15 (TPT)

And you did not receive a “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of Full Acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father, Abba!” 

Galatians 4:7 (NLT)

Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you re his child, God has made you his heir.

(January 7, 2025)

  God’s Promise About Abundance

So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abrham, Issac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant-when you have eaten and are full—Deuteronomy 6:10-11, NKJV 

God does promise abundance for His children. When we read our Bible, we will come across God’s promises for abundance dozens of times. 

Our God is a God of abundance. Giving and sharing abundantly with His creation. There is nothing stingy about God. God doesn’t just give, He pours our lavishly, without measure. When you are under the wing and care of God you will not only have enough, but you will also experience abundance.

Many people believe we can only read about God’s graciousness in the New Testament. But as the writer of Hebrews reminds us, our God is the same “yesterday, today and forevermore” (Heb. 13:8). The same God we meet full of grace and mercy, abundantly supplying all needful things to His children, is the same God we have met in the Old Testament, from our very beginning.  

While the Israelites were traveling through Moab God kept them encouraged and strengthened through His protection and provision. Not only did He cover, protect and bless them abundantly, He promised they would live in a “good land where there would be rivers and brooks and springs and lakes” (Deut.8:7-9). God promised “His eyes would be continuously upon them; they would never be out of His sight” (11:11-12), and that He would “bless their barns and everything they put their hand to. Even the fruit of the womb would be blessed abundantly” (28:11).

Just like the Israelites, when we experience the abundance of God, we experience His blessings, prosperity and generosity, an overflowing measure of His grace and provision in all aspects of life. 

Living under the abundance of God we have fullness of everything we need to sustain ourselves in joy and purpose. God’s abundance is not about being rich, having an abundance of material things, being famous, beautiful, or powerful, but it’s about having peace, serving with humility and being filled with His wisdom to guide us in life. 

Thank You God, not only for the promise of provision and care, but the way you provide and care for us abundantly in every aspect of life. From birth through death, You bless us abundantly. Amen  

Other places in the Bible you can read this promise:

2 Corinthians 9:10 (NLT)

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 

Ephesians 1:3 (TPT)

Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!

(January 6, 2025)

  God’s Promise Never to Abandon Us

God will never walk away from his people, never desert his precious people—Psalm 94:14 MSG

What a powerful, assuring and comforting promise from our great God of heaven and earth to start the new year. Lord knows we can be abandoned in so many ways during our earthly journey. When someone abandons us, they might cease their physical, emotional, or financial support; stop looking out for us, completely give up on us, leave without intent to return. 

In Psalm 27:10 David prayed “My father and mother walked out on me, but God took me in.” We have no record in the Bible that says David’s parents abandoned him. As far as we know they became old and died natural deaths. Yet David describes their dying as abandonment. Perhaps you’ve had loved ones die and you felt abandoned also.  

God will be with us in life and in eternity. God has promised never to leave us and never to forsake us (Heb. 13:5). Not under any circumstances will we ever have to worry about being without Him or without His support. God will be here for us—whether life is easy or challenging. Our God is going to stick by our side.

This is a promise worth memorizing so when we encounter the tough stuff of life, when others are walking away or withdrawing their support from us, when companies are shutting down or adopting policies that don’t consider our wellbeing, we can take a sigh of relief, we can stand strong, we can be resilient. We can weather our storms and keep going, keep moving confidently knowing “My God is always with me. God will never leave me. God won’t withdraw His support or walk away from His precious people. He’ll never desert His precious children!

Father Your promises help me to be strong, confident and courageous in this life. Amen         

Other places in the Bible you can read this promise:

Lamentations 3:31 

For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever.”

2 Corinthians 4:9

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed  

(January 5, 2025)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” –I Peter 2:5-6, NIV   

Could there be a better way to wrap up our Christmas season and focus on the Christmas Carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, than to spend some quality time with something we recite with regularity in our worship service or for some at conventions. The Twelve Drummers Drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine highlighted in the Apostles’ Creed which represent the core beliefs of Christianity.

Have you ever stopped to count the number of “I believe” statements in the Apostles’ Creed?

During the recitation of the Apostles’ Creed, we confess we believe in God as Father and Creator of heaven and earth. We confess that we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord—and that He is God’s only Son. We confess that we believe Jesus was conceived by the power of the holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary.

We believe that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate and that He was crucified, died and was buried.

We confess that we believe Jesus descended into hell but on the third ay He rose again and ascended into heaven. We believe He is seated at the right hand of God the Father and will come again to judge both the living and the dead.

We confess that we believe the Holy Spirit of God is real and present; that we believe that there is One Church regardless of the denomination we practice our individual faith through, we believe in the community of saints, the forgiveness of our sins, that these mortal bodies will be raised to immortality and that we will enjoy everlasting life in heaven when this life is over. 

In a time when many don’t know what they believe and cannot put into words, returning to the Apostles’ Creed is more important and meaningful than ever. The expression “Apostles’ Creed” is first mentioned in a letter from the Synod of Milan dating back to 390 AD and refers to a belief that at the time under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, each of the twelve Apostles contributed an article to the twelve articles of the creed. If that bit of history is correct, think of how impactful that was as they worked together in unity to form a statement all believers down through the ages, regardless of denominations and Church Body, could recite and build their faith upon. A reminder to us that we have more in common than we are separated by.  

Whether we are Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian, Catholic, Pentecostal, or other, knowing we share a faith that is rich and has survived through the ages is strengthening and confirming. Even if our worship does not look the same as the Church down the street or our music doesn’t sound the same or the way we baptize or receive the Lord’s Supper is different, we can know we are bound to one another through our confession, just as Peter writes in his letter to believers. 

Knowing our Church is bigger than any one denomination; that we are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9). Together, we are charged with making disciples of every nation and proclaiming the excellencies–the wonderful virtues and deeds and perfections of our great God—to those living in this dark world and hopeless. 

Whether it’s the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, or their longer version the Athanasian Creed, as we thoughtfully recite each one, we can be reminded of who we are, what we believe and why we believe what we do. Our heart can be strengthened and made glad to belong not only to our Lord Jesus, but to one another. 

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the precious gifts of faith, hope, and love. Through the intercession of the saints on earth we reflect on the mysteries of salvation and seek to live lives worthy of Your calling. May the symbols and songs of the Christmas season inspire us and remain alive in our heart through this new year. May we be strengthened and blessed to share our light with the world as it burns fervently in our heart. Amen  

The Nature and Quality of God

God blesses us to have many reminders that help us keep the joy and richness of our faith alive in our heart all year long; from beginning to end.      

*Adapted from Twelve Drummers Drumming 2023

(January 4, 2025)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. –Acts 1:13-14, ESV

Though we usually think of the disciples as the original twelve, not all whom Jesus chose and appointed as Apostles remained faithful and loyal. Not everyone ended up producing the beautiful music of the Gospel, sharing Jesus Christ with others. As Luke recorded, one of them, Judas Iscariot, became a traitor and perished after betraying Jesus (Luke 6:16). For a time, only eleven apostles carried out their assignment and did the work until the Holy Spirit chose Matthias as Judas Iscariot’s replacement (Acts 1:12).

Just as the eleven Apostles were dedicated followers of Jesus, the Pipers represent faithfulness and loyalty. They bring a sense of joy and celebration to the Christmas season.

One of the first instruments I played before taking up the French Horn, Trumpet, Piano and Organ was the flute. What a beautiful instrument able to produce beautiful and amazing sounds. Even when playing a somber tune, the flute adds a light and airy sound. It is one of the few instruments that can reach heights or break sound barriers. It can quiet our spirit, and help our troubles float away with each note.

The Eleven Pipers Piping, loyal and dedicated to the very end. All except John the Apostle died a martyr’s death. John’s final years were spent in exile on the Island of Patmos. Even then, his years were not without purpose. The Holy Spirit took him up to heaven. When he returned, he authored the Book of Revelation which gives us a glimpse of heaven and the end times. 

On this eleventh day of Christmas, we reflect on the eleven Apostles who remained faithful and continued the work Jesus started. We also remember others who bravely and faithfully took Christ to the nations, sharing the beautiful message of love and redemption, salvation and grace, with those in darkness and despairing. We remember Matthias, Stephen, Paul and the women, Jesus’ brothers, Mary His mother, and still to this day other too numbered to count.

You and I may not be part of the original eleven but wherever we take Christ, whenever we share Jesus with others, whenever we help others know Christ and learn of Him, we become an extension of those first disciples. Whenever we heal and deliver, comfort and encourage, soothe the hurting or give a cup of cool, refreshing water to the dry and thirsting, we become their offspring, faithful co-workers in the Master’s vineyard.

Like the children that came from Abraham’s declaration of faith in the Old Testament, we are descendants and children of the Eleven Pipers Piping. Continuing their work like Matthias, we replace and fill the opening Judas the traitor left vacant.

Through the Four Calling Birds (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we join those who sat with Christ, where taught by him, witnessed His miracles and commissioned to carry His work into a dark and dying world. The eleventh day of Christmas is a glorious day to celebrate the dedicated, faithful Eleven Pipers Piping, and their offspring which includes us.

Thank You, Jesus, for the work You began and those You left to continue it. Today we not only sing and celebrate the Eleven Pipers Piping, but we also sing and celebrate all who have become part of them, delivering the sweet message of salvation to the lost and bringing light to those in darkness. Amen

The Nature and Quality of God

Jesus chose the original twelve knowing all along the twelfth position would become vacant and you and I would need to fill it. 

*Eleven Pipers Piping adapted from 2023

(January 3, 2025)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 (B)“You shall have no other gods before[a] me.

4 (C)“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 (D)You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am (E)a jealous God, (F)visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 (G)“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 (H)“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 (I)Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the (J)seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the (K)sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For (L)in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 (M)“Honor your father and your mother, (N)that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 (O)“You shall not murder.[c]

14 (P)“You shall not commit adultery.

15 (Q)“You shall not steal.

16 (R)“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 (S)“You shall not covet (T)your neighbor's house; (U)you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”—Exodus 20:1-17, ESV

In both the Old and New Testaments lords were judges and in charge of the Law.

In the Ten Commandments we recognize the Law of God, for they are the rules God gives to govern our life and behavior. They tell us what to do and what not to do.

We may not conjure up images of graceful leaping when we think about the Ten Commandments. We might picture them more as a hard landing. Yet they must also be graceful gospel since they are coming from God and everything God does towards us—whether He is admonishing, convicting us of sin, or instructing us—is motivated from His heart of love, based upon His unwavering, gracious, and steadfast love toward us. In that case it would be correct to describe the Ten Commandments as “Ten Lord’s—a-Leaping.”

Did you learn the Ten Commandments based upon the Tables? The First Table, Commandments 1-3 tell us about our relationship to God and how we are to be toward Him. We are to love Him and trust Him. We are to put Him first. We are to make sure we don’t have any idols in our life—whether humans or man-made material things. We are to honor His name and not use it loosely or thoughtlessly, without reverence. We are to give His word honor and a place of pre-eminence in our life and heart.

The second Table is about our relationship with others and how we treat our fellow human beings which are the “neighbors” Jesus talks about in His sermons.

In commandments 4-10 we learn we are to respect and honor those who are God’s representatives. Whether in the Church, our family, or those who govern and enforce the laws of the land. We are to remember God’s the author of life, and values life whether unborn, newborn, or in old age and in every situation.

We are to honor our sexuality and remain pure in our thoughts, words, and actions. We are to govern the use of our possessions and see them as gifts from God. We are to watch how we speak to one another and make sure we are not telling lies or accusing others falsely, and we are to be content with what we have, not coveting what others have, which leads to even greater sins.

Of course, God already knows we cannot keep His laws perfectly since we have an incurable sin condition. 

Even if we manage to keep nine commandments but fail at one, we have failed and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). Still, this should not keep us from striving to live a worshipful and respectful life in and through Him.

It is in response to God’s perfect, sacrificial love for us we want to do our very best to honor Him and respect others. Because we are frail and have a chronic sin condition, God sent Jesus to fulfill the Law for us and put His righteousness on us.

Out of love, God gifted a us with the Ten Lord’s-a-Leaping to set us apart from the world which rejects God and His guidance. In a world that rejects holiness and having accountability to God or those God has placed in authority over us.

At Christmas we are blessed to remember how the Ten Commandments become a blessing and not a burden to be governed by. 

We can praise God even more for sending Jesus to complete the Law, fulfilling every requirement which will keep us out of hell and secure our mansion in heaven.

Once again, out of love, God has saved and salvaged us and He has used the Ten Lords-a-Leaping to guard, guide, and keep us in this life. 

Father God, thank You for the Ten Commandments which instruct us in the way we should live before and with one another. They keep us accountable to You and give us pause just as they should. Amen 

The Nature and Quality of God

God is holy and requires that we live holy lives also. God gave us commandments, not to set us up for failure, but to bless our lives and keep us on the right path to heaven.  

*"Ten Lord's-a-Leaping adapted from 2023

(January 2, 2025)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! –Galatians 5:22-23, NLT

Do you admire people who are light on their feet or can dance exceptionally well? I love watching old movies where the actors dance. Among my favorites are ones where Fred Astaire dances. One movie, Daddy Long Legs features Astaire with French Ballerina Leslie Caron. In that movie Caron not only matches Astaire step for step she brings a style all her own that is full of grace and captivating. I never get enough of seeing her feet glide effortlessly across the floor. You may have other favorite dancers, enjoying or admiring how their feet and bodies become one with the music. You may be someone who dances well.

The Apostle Paul preaches about another kind of rhythm and dance and that is when we keep in step with the Holy Spirit. The result is experiencing beautiful fruit we could not produce on our own or without the Spirit’s indwelling. In Ephesians 2 Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (2:8-10).

Like being loved by God, everything we do and become is in response to what God does in and through us, first (I John 4:10). The Holy Spirit comes at Baptism and the more room we give Him the more fruit He brings and works in us.

Our first reaction to His ministry of sanctification may be resistance and fear. We may stumble over our own two spiritual feet. But as we continue our journey with Him, as we embrace His Person and ministry more and more and we begin to enjoy and take on His characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We feel safe in the Spirit’s care and safe to let His fruit be the standard we live by. 

Could it be Paul’s sermon on walking by the Spirit and having the fruit of the Holy Spirit is where the saying “You can’t have too much of a good thing” came from? At the conclusion of chapter five Paul writes, “against such things there is no law” (5:23). A rhetorical understatement since the fruit of the Spirit goes far beyond the Law’s requirements. God will reward the person who embraces and lets the fruit of the Spirit rule their life and behavior. Those whose character and behavior are shaped by the Spirit’s fruit.

If you live under the control of the Holy Spirit, dancing His dance, keeping in step with His moves, you will be an enigma to many. The world will not understand your style. You will be a mystery and puzzle to the enemy. Since he will not be able to figure you out, trip you up easily, cause you to lose step, or keep you from experiencing the abundant life and blessing God has for you.

On this ninth day of Christmas, we can sing and celebrate the Nine Ladies Dancing in our life. Knowing they are a gift of God and result of receiving His beautiful Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and His nine fruits. They may make us an enigma to the world and the devil, but they truly bless our life. Amen 

The Nature and Quality of God

God sends the Holy Spirit to be our lifelong Companion and Help. The Holy Spirit brings nine spiritual fruits for us to enjoy and live by.           

*"Nine Ladies Dancing, adapted from 2023

(January 1, 2025)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the hillside, and sat down. His disciples came to him. He took a deep breath, and began his teaching: Blessings on the poor in spirit! The Kingdom of heaven is yours. Blessings on the mourners! You’re going to be comforted. Blessings on the meek! You’re going to inherit the earth. Blessings on people who hunger and thirst for God’s justice! You’re going to be satisfied. Blessings on the merciful! You’ll receive mercy yourselves. Blessings on the pure in heart! You will see God. Blessings on the peacemakers! You’ll be called God’s children. Blessings on people who are persecuted because of God’s saving plan! The kingdom of heaven belongs to you. “Blessings on you, when people slander you and persecute you, and say all kinds of wicked things about you falsely because of me!—Matthew 5:1-11, NTFE   

Christ came to save the rich and the poor. He came to save those with high standing in the community. Those who have no standing to speak of. Those who have status and fame, and those who we wouldn’t know from “Adam.” Christ came to save everyone including the lowest of the low.

During the time Jesus lived in the flesh on earth, being assigned “barn duty” or being a “milkmaid” was about the worst job anyone could have. Milkmaids spent their day and work hours hunched over a bucket, sitting on a stool extracting milk from smelly cows who didn’t want to be milked. If there was any position that could be considered lower than a shepherd, being a milkmaid was it.

Christ didn’t shun people in difficult situations. God does not reject the lowly but gives grace and strength to those who are at their lowest point in time of their need. 

What a powerful way for a preacher to begin a very pastorally sermon. Acknowledging the hurting in the congregation. It was a sermon that would resonate with those wearied from life’s struggles, stick in the minds, and touch the hearts of all who sat within earshot needing to receive such a loving, comforting, affirming, tender and powerful message for their life. No matter how dressed up people are on the outside, on the inside many are crushed in spirit, brokenhearted, needing someone to care, yet too ashamed or embarrassed to admit their soul is bankrupt. 

This sermon on the beatitudes reminds us of another Jesus preached later in His ministry when He talked about being hungry and thirsty and a stranger and naked and sick and in prison and He was welcomed, fed, visited and cared for by kind people (see Matt. 25:35-40). 

What a reputation Jesus made for Himself. He wasn’t (just) another itinerate preacher, going from place-to-place sermonizing, but a true Pastor, the Good Shepherd caring for and concerned for lost sheep in need of direction, healing, retrieving, and saving. He was God’s answer for the lost. Someone who cared for everyone no matter how dark our darkness, how great our sorrows, or how shameful our sin or past.

Children were not sent away. Instead, Jesus embraced them. Women were not looked down upon, abused or disrespected. Instead, Jesus took time to listen to and validate them. The sick was not too sick to be near. Instead, Jesus touched them and spoke with them. The insane were not too off-putting. Instead, Jesus gave them the gift of a right mind.

Today is the eighth day of Christmas. It is also the first day of a brand-new year and no better way to begin our year than remembering and celebrating that the baby born is God with us and has never left us. celebrate that Jesus is our caring, healing, patient, understanding, loving, and forgiving Savior. God’s answer to mankind’s sin-sick condition.

On the eighth day of Christmas, we can sing and rejoice in being one of the eight-maids-a-milking; knowing Jesus preached His sermon about the beatitudes just for us.

Jesus, thank you for coming to earth to save us and thank You for not rejecting the lowly in spirit but seeing our pain and need to be comforted and restored also. Amen

The Nature and Quality of God

God does not overlook the poor in spirit or any other poverty. Jesus came to save everyone and cares for everyone.  

*Today’s devotion: "Seven Swans-a-Swimming” is revised from 2023   

(December 31, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

There shall come a forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.—Isaiah 11:1-3, ESV  

When the Holy Spirit took John the Apostle into heaven to write about all he witnessed there, John saw the activity of the seven spirits and the Holy Spirit’s fullness being in play. There John saw that though the Spirit is undivided, His activities and operations are various (Rev. 1:4-5; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6).

If you are praying to be filled up with the Holy Spirit or for the Holy Spirit to make your heart His throne, then you are praying to have the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of counsel, the spirit of might, the spirit of knowledge and the spirit of the fear of the LORD; you are desiring to have the Holy Spirit perform His ministry of perfection and completeness in and through you.

Jesus was born with and operated His earthly ministry under the perfection of the Holy Spirit. He did not receive the Spirit’s gifts with limitations, but they flowed through him just as a river flows into the sea. 

Unlike us who can be satisfied with and believe ourselves to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led when we learn to respond to something the Spirit has directed us to do, are elated to speak in heavenly tongues, or when we have the Spirit’s peace as ours. 

But the Spirit is so much more than these spiritual pleasures. To have or enjoy these is only the tip of the iceberg of the Spirit’s ministry and work on earth through believers.

Isaiah prophesied that the “shoot from Jesse’s stump” would bear all the Spirit’s fruit. Which is the perfection and completeness of the Holy Spirit. What joy and amazement that our God wants to share all this with His beloved creation. Common mortals can be filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and know what it is like to live as Jesus lived: under the Spirit’s power always. Enjoying perfect and consistent wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, having knowledge and the fear of the Lord, which our Savior delighted in the most.

Paul writes that it should please us to have the fullness of God; to have the fullness of the Spirit (Eph. 3:19; 5:18). James the Apostle testifies that every perfect gift is from above (Jas. 1:17) and God will not withhold His Spirit from those who ask (Jas. 1:5). But we must ask. We must long for the Spirit’s fullness, His complete ministry and activity in our life and being. We must desire these above all other heavenly treasures. We must be willing to relinquish our free will for God’s will; the trade is without comparison.

How different would your life be, how would your circumstances change, how many burdens would be lifted from your shoulders, how many shackles would fall away from your mind, how many chambers would be opened in your heart, how many things would your eyes see; how much power would you have to walk in full liberty and how seriously would you take God’s command to fear and love him if you embodied the seven spirits or the perfect and complete ministry of the holy Spirit.

Today is the seventh day of Christmas and we sing and celebrate the Seven Swans-a-Swimming, or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, displayed through the seven spirits. It is an excellent day to expand the way we pray to have the Holy Spirit fill us up!

Father of Mercies, gracious God, and LORD! We pray to be filled up with Your precious Holy Spirit! Thank You, that on this seventh day of Christmas we are reminded of everything Your Spirit comes to be and perform in mere mortals. Today, we thank You and pray for the Seven-Swans-a-Swimming, to swim freely and abundantly in our life and being Amen. 

The Nature and Quality of God

The Holy Spirit of God is undivided, but His operations and activities are varied. The Holy Spirit hovers over the earth and comes to dwell within each believer at baptism. He is willing to dwell fully in all who ask and desire Him. 

*Today’s devotion: "Seven Swans-a-Swimming” is revised from 2023   

(December 30, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.—Genesis 2:2, ESV

What was God doing the first six days? God was creating the earth and everything in it. On day one God formed the earth, separated light from darkness, and gave “Day and Night” their names.

On the second day God separated waters from water so some of the waters are above the expanse which He called Heaven, and some are below on earth.

On the third day God made vegetation, plants and fruit trees and He gathered waters into places, calling them seas, and called the dry land, earth.

The fourth day God made lights in the heavens that would light the earth and He made the greater light of sun to rule the day and the lesser light moon, that rules the night.

On the fifth day God created swarms of living creatures: birds that fly above the earth, great sea creatures and every living creature that moves on the earth and blessed them to increase.

On the sixth day God created livestock, beasts of the field, 

creeping things, and the first human beings, whom He made in His image. Blessing humans to increase and multiply also.

Today is the sixth day of Christmas and we sing Six-Geese-a-Laying to celebrate all the work God accomplished at creation, over six days.

There is an obvious miracle brought to our attention as we sing, “Six-Geese-a-Laying, since geese are not a species of birds that normally lay eggs all year. Have you noticed it’s only at certain times of the year as you pass the places where geese gather, that you can see them happily swimming or walking (very slowly) across the street with their little ones? That’s because geese retain their wild trait of seasonal laying which is generally in the spring. Only occasionally do they lay from mid-February through late May. Yet, we can see, beginning with the birth of Christ, God can accomplish anything He wants and wills.

Beyond the miracle of geese laying at Christmas time is the miracle of earth and everything in it, that we recognize only God could have done and in six days! The miracle that everything we have and enjoy on earth no human could have created or accomplished that gives us pause at Christmas or any time of the year we stop to appreciate all God made for His pleasure and with sustaining human life, in mind.

There’s something else we can be reminded of on this sixth day of Christmas, as we look around our beautiful earth and see all that God did. Or as we look up into the skies and appreciate the beautiful scenery that hangs above us daily. We can also be reminded of something very profound: and that is, we only have a limited amount of time to accomplish the work God has assigns each one of us to do while we live on earth.

Within our weeks—if we hold to what God did at the beginning—we will use our six days well. We will be productive and not grow weary in doing good as the Scriptures remind us often. Just as we used to remind our children growing up, we don’t need to be afraid of hard work, we need to work to appreciate rest. God is the Supreme Creator, but He has given us the power to recreate, to multiply all that is good, and within the scope of human will and heart to do. 

Beginning with the Partridge in the Pear Tree (the Holy Trinity) we can be reminded every of miracle God has performed, every work of His hand, every thought He has manifested into something solid, has been for the benefit of His beloved creation and sustaining life both now and in eternity.

Today we sing and celebrate Six-Geese-a-Laying, remembering all God accomplished at creation, including human life.

Gracious God, today we remember all You did at creation, all You put into place for Your pleasure and for the purpose of sustaining human life. Thank You for thinking of us always. Thank You for all the work You did over six days! Amen

The Nature and Quality of God

God is the Creator of all there is. God created the earth and everything on it for His pleasure and for humans to enjoy and benefit from. God enjoys taking care of His creation.

*Today’s devotion: "Six-Geese-a-Laying” is revised from 2023   

(December 29, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He is not God of the dead, but of the living.—Mark 12:26,27 ESV

Is it surprising to learn Moses was such a meticulous journal-keeper and notetaker? Apparently, keeping flawless records, composing literary compositions, documenting written and oral dissertations, along with sitting before God to take dictation, was part of what Moses was doing while he led God’s people through the wilderness. 

Along with an excellent sense of direction Moses had the gift of ordering his thoughts and putting things down on paper as they happened. As a stutterer, he may not have felt comfortable with public speaking, but he was in his orb writing and assuring the history of God was communicated for future generations.   

The Five Golden Rings are the first five Books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, all authored by Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Over five Books also known as the Torah and Pentateuch, Moses provides not only details about the creation of the world and everything in it but makes sure God’s promise of His Savior to fallen, sinful people is passed down from one generation to the next. Through Moses we learn God’s Law, but we also receive the Gospel of redemption, the blessing of consecration, our freedom in God and Gods faithfulness to undeserving sinners.

In Egypt, the wilderness of Midian and at Mt. Horeb God speaks through Moses to reintroduce Himself to Israel and gives them a covenant of law and sacrifice (Exodus). And in the plains of Moab Moses was busy noting and documenting how God was faithful and constantly renewing His people, preparing them to enter the Promised Land after decades of wandering and learning to trust in God (Deuteronomy). 

Year after year, lesson after lesson. Trial after trial, and victory after victory Moses was writing it all down. Taking notes so that future generations can learn and be blessed. He was not sloppy about his work. He didn’t miss writing about anything that was crucial for earthly sojourners to know about God or history. He may have led the people by day but by night he was writing and making notes. His pen was flying, and his lamp was burning brightly.

Modern-day Recording Secretaries and Church historians might be surprised to know they share Moses’ gift of documentation. Inspiring them to perform their duties with an impeccable work ethic and meticulously.

Today’s journal-keepers can know that someday someone will be leafing through their journals. No doubt future generations will discover things about them that weren’t widely known but are important to know. Whether you are commissioned to keep records for your church, organization, or for your family you can keep in mind that a transparent journaler writes in ink, allowing the good and the bad to stand as they are. A God-fearing journaler writes with humility, giving God the glory for all he or she has done. A Spirit-led journaler writes with hope, audacity, and spiritual discernment. And a conscientious journaler writes with the same spirit of excellence that guided and filled Moses. 

On this fifth day of Christmas, we celebrate the Five Golden Rings!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Five Golden Rings! The books of Moses continue to bless us to this day and the generations yet to come. May they continue to live on and inspire us on our journey to heaven. Amen 

The Nature and Quality of God

God is the first historian and record-keeper. God uses others to record His thoughts and activities upon the earth. 

*Today’s devotion: The Five Golden Rings” is revised from 2023   

(December 28, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in in the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”—Romans 1:16-17, ESV

Did you know “Calling” birds was originally pronounced as “Collie or Colley” birds? Meaning they were black as coal. This could have been a reference to blackbirds, crows, or ravens. And even some chickens, ducks, and turkeys can be black. Some say the darker the bird the sweeter and more tender the meat!

Just like the first three gifts of a Partridge in a Pear Tree (Jesus Christ with the Holy Trinity); Two Turtle Doves (Old and New Testament) and Three French Hens (gifts of faith, hope, and love); it is our One True Love (God) who gives us His beloved children on earth the gift of Four Calling (Collie) Birds which are the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Into this dark world and into the darkness of our sin condition Light came to illuminate our darkness. Out of this dark world where faithlessness abounds, God raised up four who would help us see and understand, not only how our Savior entered but how he lived and died.

Each one provides a distinct and unique perspective of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Just like siblings growing up in the same household, with the same parent(s), yet emerge with a different perspective or take on family life, so too, the writers of the Gospels share a unique perspective on family life with Jesus. Each one emphasizes under the direction of the Holy Spirit, something different.

Since all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17), the Holy Spirit uses each writer to help us see Jesus more clearly. He inspires Matthew, former tax collector turned Evangelist, to help readers see our Savior’s life, ministry, and purpose from a unique perspective. 

Matthew begins with the genealogy of Christ, helping us see how God strategically fulfilled his promise to Adam and Eve through historical events and culminates with a focus on believers being commissioned by Christ to make disciples of everyone by spreading the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to every nation and people (Matt. 28:16-20). Matthew blesses us to live in the promise that Christ is coming again to reign eternally, and as we face struggles, we can dwell on this truth to keep us strengthened and encouraged.

Mark blesses his readers by placing a special emphasis on Jesus’ ministry and Passion, discipleship, and faith. By the time Mark’s Gospel concludes the reader knows he or she will face difficulties in life, will struggle with faith sometimes, but through repentance and faith will inherit eternal life.

Luke, the formerly trained physician, provides a gospel of the Church, written for the Church, to be used by the Church in its proclamation of the Gospel to both the baptized and the unbaptized. His carefully researched account of Jesus’ life brings the reader on a journey to learn more about Jesus of Nazareth and the forgiveness of sins. Luke helps us, not just know facts or gain knowledge, but to know the Person of Christ.

While John helps his readers to focus on both the promise of everlasting life and the bodily resurrection of Jesus, he especially helps us find and take comfort in the many promises of Jesus. It is John who highlights the “seven “I AM” statements Jesus made about Himself. John’s words give the believer life and hope. He is unashamedly devoted to Christ and shares his love and devotion to Jesus in a way that inspires readers to embrace a loving relationship with their Savior as well.

Today we celebrate the fourth day of Christmas and thank God for giving us the gift of the Four Calling or Colley Birds. As we return to their Gospels again and again our eyes are opened, our faith in Jesus is increased, our spiritual life is deepened, and our heart of faith is bolstered. Their Gospels shine brightly in a world filled with sin and darkness. Their contribution to our faith is priceless!

Thank You, Father, for this precious gift of the Four Calling Birds! Their Gospels are instrumental to bringing us to faith and increasing our faith in Jesus. May we return to them and learn from them again and again throughout our lifetime. Amen   

The Nature and Quality of God

Jesus is the Light of the world. God gives us everything we need so we can be strengthened, lead and guided in this life. 

*Revised: Christmas, Day 4: Four Calling Birds, 2023    

(December 27, 2024)

 Key Promise to know and Treasure

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. –I Corinthians 13:13, ESV

Are you counting the days of Christmas? If so, today is the third day of Christmas. Maybe you’re like some who purposely spread their gift-giving over twelve days.  It’s Christmas until Epiphany begins on January 6th. When our children were growing up, we didn’t take our decorations down until Epiphany and made a practice of putting a little something in their stocking each day of Christmas.

Today is the third day of Christmas and like the song that’s so fun to sing, the third gift of “Three French Hens” like the two gifts before them, have deep symbolism for people of faith.

During the 18th Century, large, exotic birds from the Orient were brought back to England. Thes birds mated with the descendants of the Roman-breed chickens. Just like those who put their faith in Jesus and came together to form a new Church, it was believed the “Three French Hens” in the song represented a new breed.

White chickens were believed to have brought good luck and hens symbolized motherly devotion. On a spiritual level that stanza of the song the Twelve Days of Christmas represented the gifts of faith, hope, and love that Paul wrote about in First Corinthians.

To this day the devil has one purpose: to discourage believers, to drive a wedge between us and God; to put as much distance between us and our glorious Savior as possible.

Satan’s fiery darts are purposed. They are intended to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). His strategy is to do extensive damage. His arrows are intended to make us weary and cause us to lose faith, and hope and cause us to question not only our love for one another, but God’s love for us. He will not stop until we are out of his reach and at home with God in heaven where he can’t reach us.

Every generation has found a unique way of sharing what God did through Jesus at Christmas. When “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was composed Christians were being persecuted for their faith. The song opened a creative way to teach the tenets of faith and help people know the richness of their Christians faith. For the world, it was and is a fun song to sing, but Christians everywhere can know it has a deeper, more spiritually profound meaning.

Like the generations before us we are weary people living under tremendous stresses and pressures. People that have become distressed, exhausted from the trials of life, beaten up and knocked down by a world who rejects God. We have endured unrelenting tough times. Faced hurdles, climbed mountains of troubles, gone through valleys and dry places, treaded through the rubble and ruins of sin, and need refreshing.

There is no better time than Christmas to be reminded of the richness Jesus brings. No better time to look in the manger and see the spiritual gifts that came down with Christ. Today, we celebrate and embrace the Three French Hens of faith, hope, and love. They are a gift to us from our Heavenly Father, through His Son Jesus our Savior.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus as our Savior and thank You for all the gifts You have set through Him. Christmas Day may be over, but Your gifts keep on coming. Amen

The Nature and Quality of God

God is a gifting and giving Father. His gifts don’t stop with Christ Jesus, they keep growing and flowing.

Note: today’s devotion is revised from the Third Day of Christmas, 2023  

(December, 26, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnet offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.—Leviticus 12:8

On this second day of Christmas, we are reminded how Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses by becoming our perfect—once for all sacrifice--for our sin. Before He took His last breath, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:10). The Law of God was fulfilled through Jesus’ death.  

It was written in the Book of Law (Leviticus). God told Moses to instruct the Israelites about the proper way to make sacrifices, conditions under which they were to be made, when and what they were to use. According to the Book of Law, any woman who had given birth was considered ceremonially unclean because of the issue of blood. The same as if she were on her menstrual cycle. If the baby was a boy, the mother was to bring him to be circumcised at eight days old. Thirty-three days after the birth the woman was to present herself to the priest so he could make atonement for her sin. She was to bring a burnt offering and a sin offering. If she could not afford the required lamb, then she was to bring either a young pigeon or two turtle doves (see Leviticus 12:1-8). 

When Mary gave birth to Jesus, she and Joseph followed the Law of Moses and presented Jesus at the temple at eight days. Because Mary and Joseph could not afford the required lamb, the Scriptures says they brought either a young pigeon or two turtle doves (Luke 2:24).   

Mary’s willingness to be the Lord’s servant blessed all humankind. 

Because of Jesus the need to bring sin offerings and burnt offerings stopped once Jesus died on the cross for our sin. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice who fulfilled the Law of Moses and meets every requirement for atonement (Hebrews 7,10). 

Because Jesus died in our place as the perfect, sinless sacrifice we have been redeemed from sin. Because Jesus shed His blood on the cross in every sinner’s place, we are made righteous. Because Jesus lived and died and rose again, we have no need to bring a lamb with us to worship or capture a pigeon or two turtle doves so we can receive forgiveness of our sin. We are redeemed through the blood of Jesus and can confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Rom. 10:9). On this second day of Christmas, we can truly know that Jesus is God’s gift to us that keeps on giving and giving!   

Thank You, heavenly Father for sending Your Son Jesus, who became the perfect, sinless sacrifice needed to fulfill the Law of Moses. Today we especially think about all that Jesus has done and continues to do on our behalf. Amen  

(December, 25, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.—I Samuel 26:20, ESV 

As we pack away our decorations, eat the last of our roasted turkey and ham, finish off those last Christmas cookies, and put away our Christmas music until next year, there’s at least one song we should hold onto, at least for eleven more days: that old English Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” should stay on our playlist get a little more play time.   

According to the Church year calendar, today isn’t just Christmas Day it’s the first day of Christmas. While the rest of the world is putting Christmas behind them until next year, merchants replacing everything Christmas with all things Valentines, lights being turned off and trees coming down, the people of God are just beginning their journey of Christian spirituality and observing twelve days of reflecting on the greatest gift ever sent and received. 

Composer Frederic Austin set a beloved children’s poem to music and started what has now become a classic Christmas carol to enjoy. Cleverly setting to music how God sent His Son Jesus, as our “Partridge in a Pear Tree.” The carol not only served as a cumulative memory game for children, but gave people of all ages a way to sing the great miracle and wonder God had accomplished on earth and in the lives of people.       

That God sent us a “Partridge in a Pear Tree” is a powerful reminder of how thorough His love and care for us is. Our heavenly Father has sent His Son to shelter us beneath His wings. He sent Him as Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider and protection. God’s “Partridge in a Pear Tree” has come to watch over and cover us. He stands between us and the forces of evil. He has come to listen to us, help us through this world, be our light in darkness and heal us. Jesus has come, not only to heal us but be that perfect sacrifice needed to satisfy the Father’s Command. Our Partridge has come to experience earthly life, live among us and touch us intimately. He is the visible image of our invisible God. 

Jesus Christ is the Partridge that gathers and shelters the Father’s flock, already feeling the sharpness of the cross beneath the bed of scratchy hay.    

Heavenly Father, for so many, once the gifts are opened, the festive meals eaten and trash collected, Christmas Day is the culmination of what they’ve been working toward for, for weeks but for Your children Christmas Day it’s the beginning of a journey, the start of a beautiful relationship with the One who will be our perfect sacrifice and lead us home to heaven. Amen

(December, 24, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those who with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:10-14)   

The stage was set. Everything was in its place. The costumes fit perfectly. So far everything was just as it should be: ox and lamb (check), shepherds (check), announcing angel (check), Mary (check), Joseph (check), the hay and strips of cloth (check), manger (check). Wait, where is the Christ child? Did somebody forget to bring the baby Jesus? Too late now! The curtain opens in five minutes. Let’s add extra cloths to the manger no one will know the difference! 

The world’s Christmas is even worse; it seems to have everything except the baby Jesus. Decorations (check), Christmas tree (check), fun activities planned (check), gifts (check), wrapping paper (check), scissors, tape (check), Cocoa, cookies for Santa (check), Trimmings for Christmas dinner (check); everything’s in place. There is no last-minute panic about the missing baby Jesus because there is no thought of the Christ Child. No need to add Jesus to the checklist.

God does not want His Son Jesus to be added to our list, squeezed into our activities, nor an afterthought, but that Jesus should be the center of our attention. Our redemption and salvation made possible through Jesus our central thought. Knowing without Christ there is no true Christmas and no reason to celebrate. Without Jesus our Christmas is incomplete and meaningless. Jesus wants to be in our thoughts, our head, our hearts, and the center of our worship before Christmas, on Christmas, and after Christmas.

A Christmas Eve Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You sent Your Son to earth. He came in a quiet way and although there was no room the holy family in the inn, may we make room for Jesus our Lord and Savior in the inner sanctums of our hearts. May Jesus be at the center of our thoughts, and lives. May we have a spirit of worship this Christmas that exults our Savior, and may we never grow dull or complacent about the One you sent to save us from our sin. On this Christmas Eve, as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus, we praise you O God, we worship you O Christ, we are sanctified by you, O Holy Spirit to worship Jesus, which is Christ the Lord. Amen

Christmas Spirituality

We know the story well, how the birth of Jesus came to be in Bethlehem: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should registered. It was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered—each to his own town and Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem and Mary, his betrothed was with him…and while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” 

(December 23, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. –Jeremiah 17:7-8  

There is no better time than Christmas to remember God’s invitation to those wearied from trying to do their best or their part. Those carrying burdens too heavy for them. Those needing rest and release from their own efforts, which have gotten them nowhere. 

That little baby in the manger had a lot on His holy shoulders even before He entered this world. He had the weight of a lost world and misguided people to bear, people who instinctively seek answers elsewhere before turning to God for help. 

How many truly believe that adage, “Do your best and God will do the rest.”  How many of us believe deep down inside, “If we do all we can for ourselves, exhaust all our means and resources, then God will help, then God will give us a hand.   

God did not send Jesus so we could keep believing in believing our own resources until they are depleted or relying on our own energy until we are worn to a frazzle. He sent Jesus so we could have One more powerful than ourselves, someone to bring our burdens, have someone who understood we have nothing to contribute, no answers, no way out, no solutions, no anything to make things better. 

God sent Jesus so we would know prayer does not need to be our last resort but what we are doing constantly. Jesus was and is God’s way of showing us he hears, he sees, he cares, he understands, and he is near to help us. 

Dear God, true faith does not mean turning to you when we can no longer function ourselves but turning to you first and always. Amen

Christmas Spirituality

Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, 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 (Matthew 11:28-30)   

(December 22, 2024)

 Key Promise to Pray and Treasure

Let him not trust emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment. –Job 15:31, ESV 

Lord, some people wrap empty boxes and place them under their Christmas tree for effect and decoration. Of course they know there’s nothing inside and even if they forget, once they pick them up, they will be reminded it’s just beautifully wrapped on the outside but hollow on the inside.  

Some, at the end of Christmas day will experience that dreaded emptiness. If they were feeling unfulfilled before Christmas, they will still feel unfulfilled after Christmas and that may be surprising to them. Somehow even all the beautifully wrapped gifts will not have done the trick. Their perfectly wrapped boxes weren’t empty, yet what was inside did not manage to fill up that space or hole that has been with them. There is nothing worse than getting to the end of the day or season and feeling empty and unfulfilled. 

For some, their emptiness might be called loneliness, fear, disappointment, grief, unforgiveness, unhealed wounds…whatever they call it is not the issue, it’s what they try to fill their emptiness with that becomes the problem.

Jesus, if we’re miserable before Christmas, we’ll be miserable after. If we’re feeling lost before Christmas, we’ll feel lost after. No matter how many gifts we buy or receive, how many parties we attend, how many drinks we pour, pills we pop, or joints we smoke, if we’re unhappy, lonely, unfulfilled, or empty before Christmas, we’ll be that way after. 

Christ, You are the only answer to whatever ails or haunts us. You are the only solution to our problems. The only one who can fill up the void in our life and give our life meaning. We can receive a thousand amazing gifts at Christmas but if the one gift sent to us from heaven is not there to be unwrapped or received, we’ll exit the season the same way we entered.  

A long time ago someone cleverly coined the term “Jesus is the reason for the season” and it’s still fitting today. Lord, I pray, come, and fill all my empty places and spaces. Amen  

Christmas Spirituality

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Hebrews 15:13)  

(December 21, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. –Matthew 6:24, ESV

This is the time of year not having money can really be stressful, especially for families. Not having money any other time of year might be difficult and have its challenges, but Christmas bring additional pressures and stresses since just about everything associated with the celebration of Christmas is tied to money.

Christmas or not, money can be a distraction and turn our eyes away from God. The more we stress about having it or not having it, the more our eyes are focused on money and less on God. It does not help we live in a world where money and finances are always being talked about and focused on. Christmas is one of those times that not having money can cause us to stress over money even more.  The world’s Christmas celebration is not for the poor or destitute; those struggling financially.  

Jesus was not born into riches. His earthly father, Joseph, was a carpenter. Carpenters were not rich people. They did okay providing for their family, but they didn’t have great wealth or fat bank accounts. When Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the temple, instead of a lamb they offered a pair of turtle doves which was the acceptable sacrifice for poor couples. 

Mary and Joseph would have needed to be frugal; good stewards of all they had. Jesus would be taught the value of a denarius, and He would maintain a God-pleasing attitude about worship and not giving money more importance or power than it should have. For Christ, money certainly would not be more highly valued than the Father in heaven. 

Financially struggling families today might be comforted to know Jesus can empathize with their money struggles. He knows we stress about money, and our faith and heart of worship are challenged not only as we celebrate Christmas, but each day of the year. Jesus knows it’s hard to maintain our pure heart, reject the concept that money solves all our problems, and not allow money to become our idol, and each Christmas Jesus comes near so we can be reminded of what’s important and lasting and what’s not.

Jesus, Christmas is a difficult time of year to be poor or financially challenged. Keep us from falling into the devil’s trap of believing if we don’t have money our Christmas celebration will be dull and lacking in joy. Amen         

Christmas Spirituality

You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24)

(December 20, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive a soon, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)—Matthew 1:23

What an awesome comfort and assurance the Lord’s angel shared with Joseph. In our family we have a practice of selecting baby names based upon their meaning and as they grow and mature helping them know and understand the meaning of their name and why it was selected for them. 

Names mean a lot. The child must go through life with their name (at least until they are old enough to change it if they desire) and that name should be a blessing to them and not a curse. That name should be chosen carefully, something they can grow into proudly. 

In the Old Testament we are introduced to one of God’s prophets named Jabez (I Chronicles 4:9-10). When we first meet Jabez he’s praying urgently, asking God to bless him and keep him from further pain. The name his mother chose for him meant “borne in pain” and Jabez didn’t want that legacy. He was an honorable man and should have an honorable name to match.  

In the Gospel of Matthew, the angel not only reassured Joseph the baby Mary was carrying was from the Lord and what the child was to be named, the angel shared the meaning of the name Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

It’s not hard to imagine that each time Joseph looked into the face of baby Jesus, each time he held God’s Son, his heart and thoughts must have been full of the angel’s words. It was not only Mary’s baby he was holding it was Immanuel, God in the flesh, God in his arms, God in the cradle, God in his home, now God, this soft, cooing baby had his heart.

Immanuel is everywhere present. Jesus ascended into heaven, but He has not left us alone. Through the Holy Spirit God is still with us. Like baby Jesus, nestled in Joseph’s arms, God is in your home. God is in your life. God is with you in your sickness, your problems, your complications, your trials and grief. God is in this world and He wants to be in your heart. He is God with you.  

God You are with us, and we are comforted, strengthened, assured, hopeful, joyful, and humbled that You have come to earth. Who are we that we should have God with us? Amen 

Christmas Spirituality

Have you given thought to how God is with you now in your circumstances?

Read Matthew 1:18-25

(December 19, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come”—Isaiah 35:4

Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. It is a normal reaction or response to an abnormal or uncertain event. God has given us the capacity of fear and in certain circumstances fear is a healthy response that could save us from harm or danger. If we are in a store shopping and hear gunshot, felt chaos break out, saw people running, fear would be a normal response and our reaction to run or hide might save our life. If we were out camping and saw a bear charging at us, fear would be a normal reaction to the danger introduced into our circumstances. 

There are other things we could fear, and it would be in line to do so. Then there are the things we might be fearful of, and God asks us to reject that emotion or mindset and trust Him instead. Are there things you feel fearful about that God is asking you to trust Him instead of walking in fear? God is not implying our fear is a bad thing or we are bad Christians because we are afraid, he simply asks us to trust him instead of giving into the fear that wants to take control over us. 

Because fear is normal, and part of the human experience and our faith does not mean we are exempt from painful or dangerous experiences, we do not need to be ashamed or pretend we don’t feel fearful at times. God wants to use our fearful moments to increase our faith and grow spiritually. 

Mary had reason to be afraid. Joseph had reason to be afraid. John the Baptist and so many others had reason to be afraid, but they chose faith instead. They chose to believe in the promises and prophecies of God, the voice of God, the messages of God and because they chose faith and trust in God above their fear they experienced the power of God in their lives. When we choose God over fear in the light of uncertainty God will not fail us, He will not stay away, but He will come. 

Dear God, thank You for this word about fear and putting it in perspective. I won’t feel badly about being afraid because at times fear is a healthy reaction. Help me to know when fear is good and when I should quiet my fears by putting my trust in You. Amen  

Christmas Spirituality

Think of those things, people of possible situations that you feel fearful of. Examine your emotions, mindset and faith to see if you are giving them more power than they should have over you. In your mind and emotions are they more powerful than God?

Read Isaiah 35:1-10

(December 18, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus…And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” and the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the MOST High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.—Luke 1:31,34,35

If you are one who coincides prayer with the church year or season then you already know one of the most powerful seasons to pray for breakthrough and deliverance is during Easter, and that Lent is a great time to pray for submission and a higher discipline of the soul.  

During the Christmas season my husband and I remember to pray fervently for those who are sick or troubled in a special way, those who are in dire circumstances that no human can change, and those who have not received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Over the years we have witnessed God do powerful, awe-inspiring, tremendous things in the lives of people and throughout the earth. We’ve seen Him perform miracles and wonders in the lives of those whose circumstances were not looking very promising and bleak at best.

When we are going though trials and tribulation, challenges, and confusion it’s easy to forget we belong to a mighty God, powerful and strong, who can work miracles and who can save and deliver. In the Old Testament we read how God did some amazing things in the lives of His own people: parting the Red Sea, freeing them from captivity, sustaining them in the wilderness, win wars and secure victories. We read how God saves and delivers, heals, and cleanses, and we learn of Him as the God who comes to save us; the God who sees us; the God who is El Shaddai and Jehovah Jireh. 

But in the Old Testament Books we have not yet read about an even greater miracle God was going to accomplish which was putting flesh on His Son, Jesus, and sending Him as a baby through the womb of a virgin. 

Whenever we spend time in the Gospels--beginning with the Gospel of Matthew--and read what God did for poor, lost, hopeless sinners, condemned to live an eternity in hell, delivering and redeeming us to live eternally in heaven, our heart can be relieved, our spirit lifted, our soul filled with hope, our mouth filled with praise and thanksgiving, our mind busy as we consider that nothing is beyond God to accomplish. 

Because God sent Jesus in such a miraculous way, we can confidently praise Him in advance, anytime we are facing something that has no answers or way out that we can see. The same question God answered for Abraham centuries ago is still being proven today, “Is anything too hard for God?” (Gen. 18:14) and in the birth of Jesus and all the miracles God has done before and since, we can respond “no” nothing is too hard for my God to do!

Our God, You are great and mighty to perform miracles and wonders. We pray, wipe away all doubt and reach into our tattered lives to work miracles and wonders. Amen

Christmas Spirituality

What are the areas you need a miracle from the Lord? Pray boldly and incessantly before the throne of God. Knowing nothing is too hard for God to accomplish. 

(December 17, 2024)

Key Promise to Read and Treasure

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”—Mark 1:14,15 

That passage doesn’t seem very Christmasy does it. It’s more like what we read during Lent, when we’re preparing for Easter. In ordinary mode and mindset, the season of Christmas is spent with a praise and festive mentality and spirituality. But if we were to observe Christmas the way Jesus began his ministry, we would be celebratory, reflective, and even have a mind and heart-set of repentance. 

John the Baptist had been arrested, and Jesus was beginning His public ministry. Immediately Jesus takes up where John left off: calling people to repentance. Jesus was not asking us to live with regret but to embrace newness and change made possible by the coming of God’s gospel, our Savior and redemption. 

If we celebrate the birth of Christ we cannot ignore the death of Christ. If we pay attention to the cradle, we must also pay attention to the Cross tucked beneath the scratchy hay. 

Because the cross was in the cradle, at Christmas we not only celebrate the birth of Christ but have full knowledge of why the baby came to us. Why God sent his Son—who is the gospel—to earth. As David wrote, “I know my sin. My sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3). When we look into the cradle, we do not look with unknowing, but humble reality that our desperate state called for desperate grace. 

Even at Christmas, especially at Christmas we can be aware of the call to and need for true repentance that brings change. Even baby Jesus already knew there’s no better time to repent than Christmas. No better time to embrace the change repentance calls for. No better time or way to honor the Christ child than taking the gospel to heart.

Jesus, you began your public ministry with a powerful message that continues to this day. Because the cross was in the cradle along with the rags and straw may we be willing to see and embrace it all. Amen

Christmas Spirituality

Christmas spirituality could include asking Christ to help you gain a new perspective on life—so you can see everything in the light of the Gospel.   

(December 16, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure  

The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘”The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ –Numbers 6:22-23, NIV  

One of my favorite parts of the worship service comes at the very end when the pastor gives the benediction where the congregation is blessed through the promises of God before we depart for home. Over the years I’ve heard many benedictions. I have my favorites. There is one my husband says frequently that I can almost feel God smiling upon me, feel the warmth of heaven, as though God is taking a giant paintbrush and blessing me from head to toe. Giving me one last hug before sending me out into the cold, cruel, loveless world. 

The benediction feels a lot like when our grandkids give us that last big hug—even though they’ve hugged us a thousand times already—as we or they leave out the door. It’s the last thing I feel before departing, and I carry their hug with me even as we or they drive down the street.

God’s a hugger. God hugs you every day. He wants you to feel His loving and warm embrace not just at special times, but all the time. He wants you to pay attention to His hugs. God wants you to feel His love He especially wants you to feel His hug at Christmas wants to hug you at Christmas. Do you need that kind of blessing in your life today? Do you need a hug from God today? Would you welcome the face of God turning toward you, smiling upon you, transferring his peace to you? Painting you from head to toe with his beautiful countenance? How would your day turn around? Your life change? Your attitude or countenance be transformed if you felt God with His arms around?

When you look into the manger and see Mary’s baby, God’s Son, Jesus, you are looking at God’s hug of salvation.    

Christmas is an especially wonderful time to soak up the benediction God has sent to love and hug starved people, through His Son Jesus. Jesus is the benediction of God traveling with us on this journey. God’s face smiling upon you, His countenance filling you, his graciousness covering and protecting you. 

Daily, God hugs His world; even those who don’t care to hug Him back, He hugs us through heavenly comfort, strength, peace, and joy. Even the smallest provision is God’s hug. His hug fills the gaps and voids in our life. They comfort us when we are distraught. They    

Father, thank you for the benediction you send through your poetic promises and through our beautiful Savior, Jesus. Amen  

Christmas Spirituality

The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:24-27)  

(December 15, 2024)

 Key Promise to Pray and Treasure

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.—I John 1:1-4, ESV 

God are not like the speechless, untouchable or unrelatable idols that some have fashioned with their own hands and we praise You for being our great and awesome, relatable, touchable and touching God whom we see the evidence of in our world and lives daily. More than any other time of year, at Christmas time You come to us in so many ways; we can’t possibly miss You! You came to us as a baby, clothed in flesh and let us experience Your presence in human form. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John) Jesus Christ, the reflection of Your glory (Hebrews 1:3) blessed us and healed us.  

God, at creation You gave us sight, giving us the ability to perceive things through physical eyes and at Christmas we can see the lights, the brightly lit and decorated trees, the candles glowing in the windows and be reminded You are with us, shining all around us.  

With the ears You formed for us we can hear Your voice through the Scriptures read during worship, the songs and traditional hymns of the Christmas sung and chanted throughout the season. We can hear Your voice as You speak to us through the kind words and thoughtful, loving messages of others.

We can smell Your sweetness in the crispness of the winter air and in the aroma of freshly baked breads and delicacies which sustain these fragile bodies and fill our empty stomachs with delight. 

We can taste You as we receive the Sacraments of bread and wine or grape juice, consecrated for the forgiveness of sin and to bless our body and soul; tasting bread and wine that fills us up and strengthens us so we can continue our journey and be reminded how You are with us everywhere.  

We can touch You as we open our Bible, pray, and worship. You are as close as our neighbor, our friends, our family whom we can embrace and draw close to.

Thank You, Immanuel, God with us, for coming to earth at Christmas and making the world and things around us become more beautiful than ever. We can worship and draw close to You with our senses and what a miracle that you make the abstract concrete and the invisible, visible. 

Gracious God, loving Savior, let my senses never dull; never let me be oblivious to Your presence all around me, not only at Christmas but every season and day of the year. Amen       

Christmas Spirituality

Take time to pay attention to God all around you this season. How does God use the sights, sounds, smells, of the season to draw you close and commune with you.  

(December 14, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 6:23, ESV

What’s the most impractical gift you have ever received? It’s okay. You can share. I won’t tell! I’ve known people who have received some outrageously impractical gifts. The kind that makes you scratch your head and say, “what were they thinking!” I once knew a person who gave a Bible intended for the sighted to a blind woman. How impractical and thoughtless is that? 

At times, people can give others gifts, based upon their own likes and desires and be so disconnected with our life, circumstances, and need they give the most impractical things, believing it to be a blessing to us when in truth, it’s useless. Imagine giving something so thoughtless that it is completely useless to the recipient. 

In the Gospels of Luke (11:11) and Matthew (7:9-11) Jesus asked the question what father would give his son a serpent if the son were asking for a fish, or give him a scorpion if the son needs an egg? No truly loving, attentive and nurturing parent would do such a thing. The same could be said today who, in their right mind would give shoes to a man with no feet? 

From Genesis to Revelation the Scriptures show us the practicality of God toward His creation. God sends us gifts like mercy, forgiveness, grace, strength, peace, and wisdom. God looks at our life and circumstances and sends the most practical gift there is. A practical gift for the sick is healing, medicine, strength, and hope; people to give care. To the depressed God sends hope. To the hungry God sends food. To the thirsty, water. To the weary God sends refreshment. These are all things that we need; that are useful to us, not ten years from now, but today. 

When we were lost in sin, destined to hell and in danger of living out eternity in the devil’s den, God didn’t send more money for us to add to our bank account, He sent us Jesus as Savior and Redeemer, because that is the most practical gift He could give a dying, lost destined for hell, people. 

Christmas is one of the highest times of the year where people give and receive gifts. Wouldn’t it be great if what we gave and what we receive was practical with the recipient in mind?

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus when we needed saving. We bless You for Your practicality when it comes to sending what we need. Let us learn from You and bless others with what is most practical for them. Amen  

Christmas Spirituality

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (Luke 11:11-12)

(December 13, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure 

And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, form the town of Nazareth, to Judea to the city of David, which was called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child—Luke 2:4-5 

I admire any woman that can ride for days on a donkey during the last weeks of pregnancy, hours before going into labor. The last time I was pregnant—which was more than 40 years ago—I remember how, even a short car ride was uncomfortable; to walk from the back of a store to the front was excruciating.

This picture of Mary, the Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, riding on a donkey gives us insight into her character of dedication, determination, and selflessness. For someone so young her strength of heart and obedience to God is not only admirable, but inspirational. 

Sometimes our earthly journeys are marked by pain, for some periodic and others pain from beginning to end. For many, as far back as they can remember their life has been one painful or traumatic event after another. I know people who suffer with health conditions where pain is their daily norm. They are not those who say, “I’ve had some good days, and I’ve had some bad days.” But rather, “I don’t know the last time I had a good day or a day without pain or struggle.” If we don’t know or understand that kind of existence or journey, we might have a hard time identifying or being empathetic. 

God did something truly wonderful and amazing for us. He sent Jesus into our pain. He did not stand afar off; God did not save us from a distance but entered into our earthly experience firsthand our earthly journey. When God met with Moses at the burning bush he told him, I’ve heard the cries and now I have come down (Ex. 3:4).

When your life is filled with pain—be it physical, emotional, mental, spiritual or any other—God comes down, God enters in, God does not leave your side. He doesn’t come just to observe your painful struggle but to walk beside you and to bring healing. People who manage to get through life even with the pain they experience daily are able to do so because the Lord is with them. 

The messages of God through the Scriptures can bring us comfort, strengthen and help us, as we endure our painful conditions. Whether it’s Paul’s message in 2 Corinthians, reminding us that God comforts us in all our trouble and affliction (2 Cor. 1:3-8), or David’s assurance that God is close to the brokenhearted in Psalm 34:18, or how God reminds us through the letters of the Apostle Peter not to be surprised at our fiery and painful sufferings (I Peter 4:14), we can take heart and know our God is with us, and that all things—even and especially our painful experiences—work together for the good of those who love God and have been called according to His purposes (Rom. 8:26).   

Pressing through and forward in life when emotional, mental, or physical pain is not only part of the daily challenge, but the day’s journey, is not an easy life. Just as God was with his servant Mary on that long, painful journey to Bethlehem, He is with those whose lives are steeped in every kind of pain from beginning to end and in between. He hears their cries, shares their pain, and comes near to help.  

Father, we thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to us, thank You for sending Him into our painful existences and for helping, identifying, and saving us. Amen  

Christmas Spirituality

Consider the times Jesus entered into your pain and what He brought to you.

(December 12, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing is impossible with God—Luke 1:36-37 

We might call Elizabeth and Zechariah a “power couple.” These two devout people, righteous and holy, played a big part in the Christmas story. Not quite as old as Abraham and Sarah we read about in Genesis, but still past the time in life where it was likely they were going to have children of their own. Long past the time they thought they would hear the pitter-patter of little feet around the house. Elizabeth and Zechariah might remind us of how God blessed Job at the end of so many painful losses. “God blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12). We are never too old to experience a blessing from the Lord; something brand new, unexpected, and amazing. 

Just like the Gospel of Matthew, the gospel of Luke opens by revealing one miracle after another. Elizabeth and Zechariah remind us we should never count God out and that God can do whatever he wants, in whatever way he wants to accomplish His purposes. Their story is a good one to revisit when we have subconsciously resolved “something is not going to happen for us”, when we are giving up on seeing our dreams and desires come to fruition and we have –even if only subconsciously—given up on God.

Just like God had preserved and prepared Sarah’s womb for Isaac, God had preserved and prepared Elizabeth’s womb for John the Baptist and he could not have been born one year, one month sooner, one day sooner than he was and have everything come out the way God planned and purposed. The timing of Elizabeth’s pregnancy and John’s birth was purposely designed. John had a purpose to fulfill. He was to be the one who would go ahead of Jesus and prepare the way.

Have you thought about your own life and purpose and why God’s timing has been the way it is in your life? It’s something to think about and can make all the difference whether you are filled with resentment, sadness, confusion, and disappointment, or whether you have peace and are still living with expectancy because you know God’s timing is perfect and all things line up with His purposes and plans for your life. 

It’s impossible for God to be late when it comes to fulfilling a promise and bringing His salvation to us, and while we are waiting, we have things to accomplish which prepare us for the fulfillment of God in our life and circumstances.

Lord, I don’t always understand your timing. You wait when I think You should proceed. You stop when I think You should keep going. You are silent when I think You should speak up. Let me know Your peace and accept Your timing because its perfect. Amen 

Christmas Spirituality

Review your life with the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah in mind and what you have been waiting on God to accomplish in your own life. 

Read Luke 1:57-66

(December 11, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love—I John 4:7-8 (ESV)

Do you ever wish the sentiments that are expressed and felt at Christmas could be with us always? People seem to be happier, better, more generous with their well-wishes and extending blessings. Sure, you can run into a few bah humbugs but for the most part there is a kinder spirit everywhere you go. Unfortunately, that caring spirit disappears as soon as January 2nd appears on the calendar. 

When Jesus came to earth, he did not descend into a “Christmas” spirit or loving environment. People were doing and being who they always were. Governments were not running smoothly. The wellbeing of the citizens was not considered. Certain people groups were oppressed, and the poor were the last to receive consideration. Vendors in the marketplace were using faulty scales, cheating their customers, and even the Church managed to place heavy loads on people. It was not a magical time where love could be felt in the air or encountered on every corner. Jesus entered at a time love was only an emotion and not a way of life or core value to live by. 

The love of Christ is a central element of Christian belief and theology. Jesus came as perfect love to live among imperfect people. That’s not easy to accomplish. His love was not experienced through sentiments or emotions but was displayed through acts of love—which were resisted and rejected—and which culminated with the singular act that won our salvation and gave us liberty over eternal death and sin. 

Because Jesus is love and spreads His love everywhere, even when He ascended into heaven love remained. To this day, love lives and shines through all who make love more than a sentiment or emotion. 

After Christmas love does not have to disappear or go back into hiding until the next Christmas season. Through those who believe love is the most impactful effective change agent and the best way to let others experience Christ, love remains and is actively doing what love does: loving others into the Kingdom, loving others despite being rejected and resisted. Sharing the love of Jesus beyond words, reflected in loving actions. Love exists and is experienced through those who practice grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and generosity. 

Christ-people make a difference in this world. As Jesus taught, hard as we try, hard as the world tries to put out lights and oppress loving spirit’s, lights just cannot be hidden, you cannot help but notice those who belong to the Savior. They stand out in the darkness: they are brightly lit stars against a darkened backdrop. Love came down at Christmas, but it didn’t return to heaven without accomplishing that for which it was sent.      

Jesus, like the Father, You are love. Let us become love that keeps on living and giving more than one season, more than one day, but all year round. Amen 

Christmas Spirituality:

How will you practice and spread the kind of love Jesus brought at Christmas beyond Christmas? 

Read I John 4:7-21

(December 10, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18

Have you given much thought to how much of life is based on those “what if’s?” In fact, there’s an entire industry built around many of them. 

What if the car breaks down? 

What if our house is broken into? 

What if everything we own is destroyed in a fire or flood? 

What if the appliances or heating system break down? 

What if we get sick? 

What if we have an accident and become injured or disabled?

What if we die suddenly? 

What if I don’t get accepted into that program I want to be in? 

Of course, for many of the things we get all worked up about and stay up nights wondering “what-if” there are insurance policies to cover us and help us sleep better at night.

Through the prophet Isaiah God presents a set of “what-if’s”. God says what if the fig tree doesn’t blossom or fruit appear on the vines, or the fields do not produce food or there are no cattle in the stalls. These are real things that would have been especially important to those who farmed during that time and were responsible for feeding or providing services to others. These what-if’s weren’t frivolous they were real concerns for real people. 

Sometimes life presents us with things even the best insurance policies cannot cover or make less impactful. Advent is a time of hopefulness and anticipation but it’s also a time to redirect us to an important set of what-if’s. One of those is “what-if Christ returns today, right now?” Are you ready? Are you covered? 

It’s entirely possible to never experience losing our possessions to a fire or flood. We may never experience our appliances or systems break down. What we cannot escape is experiencing Christ’s return. We might not be around when he descends from heaven to earth, but He will still come for us when it is our time to die. Even if we get away with having no health or home insurance, we don’t want to chance it when it comes to our eternity. 

God provides an answer for the what-if’s. God says even if the worst possible scenario happens, we can rejoice in him. If we don’t have anything else, we still have God. We can use the same wisdom we use to cover earthly possessions and become smart about insuring our relationship with Jesus and eternity. This will help us sleep more soundly and avoid worrying about our future.

What if Jesus doesn’t return in our lifetime? But what-if He does?

Jesus, I don’t want to chance being without You in eternity. Today I place my faith in You as my Lord and Savior. I confess my sins and ask for Your Holy Spirit and for forgiveness. Help me to live a life that pleases the Father and affirms my faith so on the last Day I will receive heaven as my eternal home. Amen

Christmas Spirituality

Rejoice that God sent Jesus to save you from an eternity without Him. Rejoice that the Savior is yours and you are His. 

Read Habakkuk 3:17-19

(December 9, 2024)

 Key Verse to Read and Treasure

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 (NIV) 

It’s not unusual for hope to be high and then plummet based upon our circumstances. If things are looking up, we are filled with hope. Hope is easy when the world is looking bright, our prospects promising. But if they look bleak, we might be filled with despair, become discouraged and depressed. 

Typically, our measurement for hope becomes about people and circumstances. If the answers to our questions like: “Are they ever going to change? Will my health ever improve? Will I get that job or promotion? Am I going to be able to pay all my bills this month?” can be answered in the affirmative then we are good, but if not, then our hope isn’t too high. Because hope can be based upon external factors before it is felt internally, it becomes relative, subjective, coming and going based upon what we are facing or feeling. 

Because hope can come and go it’s not unusual to feel hope is elusive. It may feel more like the water we try to hold in our hand that keeps slipping through our fingers. God knew sin changed the narrative. Adam and Eve were people of hope until sin entered in. God sent his Son, Jesus, so our hope does not need to be relative, subjective, situational, or circumstantial. It does not need to depend upon human cooperation, disposition, or goodness, but can be placed upon the unchangeable faithfulness and power of Christ who is our Hope. 

When we’re feeling hopeless it’s good to shift our gaze. Instead of looking to others or our circumstances we should fix our eyes on Christ. We can see him enter at Christmas as a baby or focus on Him as our full-grown Savior, hanging on the cross. Our hope is not only in the manger but its hanging on the cross, but we can go beyond that and see Him seated at the right hand of God praying for us daily. 

Because Jesus was born, lived, died, rose, and ascended into heaven our hope is with us today. We can remember because Christ is always with us anything is possible.  

Jesus what a relief we don’t need to keep searching or resolve ourselves to be hopeless people, but we can fix our eyes on You and receive the hope You bring and give. Amen 

Christmas Spirituality

See what God said about giving you hope Read Jeremiah 29:11 

(December 8, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Pray

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem—Luke 2:1-4 (ESV) 

Lord Jesus,

There’s a comfort in observing rituals of faith in our own journey today. Seasons and times that help us shape our theologies and draw closer to Your purposes and plans. That help remind us of our purpose in life and for eternity. 

We are grateful that like the season of Lent, Advent does not belong to any one group or denomination but is for anyone and everyone who are preparing their hearts for Your coming and want to bring You glory and honor.

Thank you for special times throughout the year that lend themselves and provide space to pause, to consider, to participate in activities that are older than time itself and have been around longer than any of us can track. Even those rituals as simple as choosing a Christmas tree, hanging lights, lighting and hanging wreaths, the foods we eat and songs we sing, that help us focus more on You and the especially blessed relationship we enjoy with You, than on complications in government and politics. The small things that offer and provide a break from the everyday.

Savior, bless our lives, our ponderings, our anticipation, our rich and meaningful rituals that help us prepare internally and externally for Your coming. Give us a right balance of joy and soberness as we realize it is because of our own sinfulness that You must come. Help us enjoy this Advent and Christmas with an even deeper mindfulness than ever before. 

We bless You, our loving, giving, forgiving Savior as we begin our journey of anticipation and worship. 

Christmas Spirituality:

What are the rituals you observe as you prepare for Christmas? What comfort (peace, joy) do you get from them?  

Read Luke 2:1-7

(December 7, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirt. Go ahead and marry her—Matthew 1:20 (CEV)

When we walk with the Lord and are led by the light of His Word, He promises to guide us through every scenario in life we can think or imagine and even the ones we can’t think or imagine. We might find ourselves confronted with problems, bearing up under grief or loss, feeling as though we are carrying a heavy cross; God will guide us through and help us make decisions based upon His will and plans for us. He will lead us in the right direction until we reach our destination of heaven. 

The Christmas story would not be complete without spending some time with and focusing on Mary’s betrothed Joseph. Joseph’s level of obedience to God is commendable. Not many of us can say we’re willing to be as obedient as Joseph was. 

What Joseph went through would make a good story line for one of today’s reality shows. Maybe a title like “The Real Carpenters of Nazareth.” Unwed mother, claims to be a virgin but gets pregnant, her fiancé struggles with what to do—he loves her after all—but feels it’s better for everyone to break it off, until he has a strange premonition where he learns the pregnancy is actually a miracle by God and she’s still a virgin, untouched by any man. He trusts what he’s been told and steps out on faith and his faith does not disappoint him. They marry and travel to Bethlehem for the mandated Census when his new bride goes into labor. Unable to find a hotel room, she gives birth in a cold stable. After the baby is born a lot of strange things happen like angels singing, shepherds appearing out of nowhere and animals bowing down before the baby. Every episode could end with a cliffhanger. What happened next? How did it turn out? 

If Abraham’s faith in God in the Old Testament set the standard for our faith, then Joseph’s example of faith in the New Testament reminds us what can happen when we trust in God and obey His word even when we don’t have any concrete evidence in front of us. Like Abraham and many others Joseph’s trust and obedience declares, “If God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” 

Joseph had an important part to play in bringing salvation to the world. God placed him in the Savior’s life not only to cover Mary at a crucial hour, protect and care for His Son while He grew in stature and wisdom. 

There’s so much we can learn from each character and personality involved I the Christmas story. So much we can take and copy. So much we can remember: God uses imperfect humans to pull off His perfect plan and our willingness to trust Him and become obedient to His command and directions will not only cause history to line up but bless us in the process. 

God, thank you for the example of Joseph, especially when it comes to trusting in and becoming obedient to You. Joseph believed Your message without any hint of doubt and by so doing had the honor of parenting his Savior and ours. Amen   

Advent Mindfulness

Is there something God needs you to trust and obey him? Spend some time reading more about Joseph in the Gospel of Luke. 

(December 6, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure 

She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day—Luke 2:37 (ESV)

Once her husband died the prophetess Anna did not stop praying and worshiping God through fasting. Prayer became the major focus and activity of her life. She had been a widow from the time she was young until in her eighties. It was a rarity for a woman to have a place at the outer courts of the temple but that is where Anna lived until she died and that is where she met the Savior. 

Anna is a beautiful example and inspiration for us when it comes to persevering in prayer. She was woman of prayer. She must have been a wonderful women’s counselor but also amazing at spreading the message of the One who was to come. The Scriptures say even after she met the Messiah, she spoke of him to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Can you think of a bigger honor or more humbling experience than to meet Jesus after you have been persevering in prayer? After you have spent time fasting or worshiping? As the Scriptures promise, that will happen. James said, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8). We cannot get nearer or more intimate than when we’re praying to one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity.  

Luke’s Gospel is a good place to revisit whenever we’re tempted to give up on prayer or feeling tired of praying the same-old-petition and nothing is happening. 

Persevering in prayer pays off. When we commit to persevering in prayer, trusting God to fulfill his promises in our life and circumstances we must be willing to take our eyes of the clock, stop holding God to a “limited-window-of-time” response. 

Anna’s life reminds us that we should never give up, never stop hoping, never stop looking for the Lord to fulfill his promises. He came to Anna that day, but he comes to us also bringing his healing, peace, comfort, strength wisdom, whatever it is we have been on our knees about. God will do what he promises but he’ll do it in his time, his own way. 

One thing we can know: our prayers are never in vain, always heard, and always answered. 

Jesus sometimes we read about someone like Anna and feel a tinge of godly jealously but then we realize You have come to us in our lifetime also. Each time we pray and experience answers to those prayers it means You have revealed Yourself to us also. Thank You, Jesus for answering prayer and coming close. Amen  

(December 5, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure 

 And a voice from heaven said, “this is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” –Matthew 3:17, NIV

Who is Jesus? Jesus is God’s Son, dearly loved by the Father and God chose to share the One He loved with a sinful world. 

There’s something especially special about someone sharing what they love with us. My grandmother had a way of doing that. Summer meant attending concerts at a local amphitheater. Other times she took us to movies: westerns featuring her favorite actors. Ice cream after dinner. Evenings on the porch sitting I the glider and early morning trips to her favorite fishing pond. When I put all these memories together, I realized what she was doing was very simple, she was sharing what she loved most with us. 

We share the things we love with the people we love because we want them to enjoy those things as well. 

Sharing what we love most with those we love says how deeply we care about someone and how much we treasure and value our relationship.   

God does this for us all year long. He is constantly sending us blessings from heaven that bespeaks His love for us. He gave us oceans and mountains. Fish and birds. Sunrises and star-lit nights. At Christmas God sent His Son Jesus because He wanted to share the One He loved with us. God wanted to know He would not withhold anything, including his only son from us. Every time we investigate the cradle at Christmas or gaze upon the cross at Easter, we can see something greater than a symbol. We can remember that’s where the Fathers love gift was. We can know how much the Father wants us to share in His love and know His love.  

The Apostle Paul prayed believers would be able to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of al the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). Grasping the Savior’s love is the same as grasping how much it meant for the Father to share the Son.  

In Romans (5:8), Paul reminds us God showed His love for us by sending His Son “while we were (still) sinners and Christ died for us. 

John reminds us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son. That whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16), and we can come to “know and believe the love that God has for us.” Since “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (I John 4:16). He even calls us His children when we receive His special love gift” (I John 3:16). 

The Fathers love-gift, Jesus is the righteous, holy atonement for our sins, and He is the Father’s love gift to us. The Father loves the Son and the Son was given as a gift to us from the Father. WE will receive countless gifts over our lifetime—and a great number given out of love, but none will be as special or pure as the one the Father sends from heaven.   

Father in heaven, thank you for such a gift as your own dear Son, Jesus. We will treasure and love Him always just as we treasure and love You. Amen 

(December 4, 2024)

Key Promise to know and Treasure

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists ad that he rewards those who seek him—Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 

Hebrews 11 starts out defining what faith is. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is having confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

Did you know it’s entirely possible to believe in God but not have confident faith in him? We can believe in the existence of God but not necessarily have faith that God is all-powerful, able to do more than we can think, ask, or imagine, or make a way-out-of-no-way. We can believe I the existence of God but lack faith that God can deliver us from evil, save us from troubles, supply our daily needs, pull us out of raging waters of tribulation, not only hear but answer our prayers.    

In the Christmas story there are many wonderful examples of people who not only believed in the existence of God, but had confident faith He can do the miraculous. Beginning with Mary, then Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and so many others not mentioned by name. They all displayed commendable faith we can both admire and possess if we’re willing to let go of doubt and skepticism. Willing to let God be bigger than the little box we’ve relegated him. Willing to stop believing the devil is cleverer or Satan more powerful. Willing to stop believing our problems are challenging for God and too big for him to solve.

In Psalm 130 the psalmist says, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and for His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning” (130:5-6).

This is the kind of faith Simeon had. Faith that positioned him to see the great miracle of the world’s Savior entering in. The Holy Spirit had told Simeon he would not die until he saw the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah and he believed that promise and waited for what the Spirit had told him, to happen. Simeon lived in expectancy and God did not disappoint him.

God suffered Israel and he suffers us not just to come to the knowledge of or belief in Him but to be people of unmovable, confident faith. Moving us from belief in his existence to faith is not an easy task. Faith comes by hearing the Word and it takes root by experiencing the goodness of God firsthand. 

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to come to both faith and belief in Jesus. We have an entire year to look back and see how the Lord has faithfully brought us through. How the Spirit has taken us by the hand just as He did Simeon and position us for receiving what God has (already) put in place for us. It’s a perfect time to reflect on the Lord’s goodness, provision, presence, and the fulfillment of His promises over our lives. To remember the moments and times we would not have made it through without Him. Every moment, every trial, every struggle, every challenge we experience is moving us from just believing in the existence of God, to having confident assurance of faith in Him also. 

King of Glory, God of Grace may I patiently wait for your promises, like Simeon—prepared for Your use in the work You have for me. Amen 

(December 3, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son—John 1:14 (NLT)

How do you respond when you read what John writes in his Gospel? Does it give you chill bumps to think how everything worked out perfectly, according to God’s plans? Does it boggle your mind how God the Father did not need to convince Jesus. There was no need to beg, plead, or coerce. Jesus came willingly because His Father asked, and we had a need. Does it bring you to tears knowing even if you had been the only human on earth that needed saving, needed Jesus to suffer and die on the cross to redeem you from eternal damnation, He would have done it just for you and He would not have given it a second thought? 

Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh and became a human being. He walked this earth, lived our human experience. Not some elitist lifestyle but a common, poor person, who was raised in a family of working-class people, was educated the same way all little Jewish boys were, learned a trade, dressed ordinarily, and, according to Isaiah, wasn’t anything glamorous or spectacular to look at. Jesus did not standout in a crowd as the next GQ model. 

Furthermore, Jesus was subjected to the same physical and emotional needs, limitations, and demands that all humans have. Jesus needed nutritious food and water to live. He may have had times He didn’t feel great in His earthly body, and we read how, at times, after a preaching marathon, conducting worship service and performing miracles from heaven He needed a nap. 

Jesus had never been away from home, but he became separated from his Father, from the beauty and majesty of heaven. Left His heavenly throne, took off His heavenly garments, and came to earth, not only as our Savior but as our friend. Jesus was not aloof. He made friendships that He nurtured and enjoyed. Formerly, in the Spirit, Jesus had no restrictions, limitations that the physical body can bring, and He could be everywhere at once but being in a physical body meant He could only be one place at a time and could only travel as quickly as His two feet could go. 

Being in the flesh meant Jesus did not get the respect or honor He deserved. Paul wrote, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Php. 2:10-11). But those who did not recognize Jesus’ divinity, or as the Son of God did not bow before Him. They did not speak with him respectfully but disrespectfully, and would later verbally and physically abuse God’s Son, the Savior of the world.    

As the Word, Jesus was all the promises of God, all the mercy, love, forgiveness, truth, and grace wrapped in flesh. The Word we read today from Genesis to Revelation, and everything in between once had flesh all around it. 

We can be amazed, grateful, humbled as we consider everything the Savior gave up in order to serve and save us. Even if we only find one reason to pause during Christmas, only one reason to contemplate or prepare our heart for the Savior’s coming Jesus, putting on flesh and coming to live among us would be it.

Thank You, God, for sending Jesus to earth and thank You Jesus for willingly leaving heaven to live among us and become one of us. Your sacrifice allows me to receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. I’ll never be able to fully understand the magnitude of what you did for me but as much as I can, I will try. May this Advent and Christmas season be especially meaningful and transformative for me. Amen  

(December 2, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree if utter destruction. –Malachi 4:5-6, ESV. 

By the month of December, we may be feeling many levels of depletion and weariness. We’ve been through a lot over nearly 365 days and as the year draws to a close, we are plum-tuckered-out. We’ve had plenty and we’ve had times of scarcity. We’ve prayed, we’ve waited, we’ve given up, we’ve been hopeful, we’ve lost hope. We’ve had some victories, but we’ve also had our share of battles. Like the song says, “We’ve had some good days, and we’ve also had some hills to climb.” By the time Christmas is approaching we’re ready for something new, ready for some fresh hope, a fresh word from God.

Our 300 plus days can be likened to Israel waiting on God for more than 5,000 years, or like the time of silence between the Old and New Testaments, during which God did not speak and no Scripture was written. The four hundred years of silence that ended when the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah with good news, he and Elizabeth would have a son even in their old age (Luke 1:16-17). Through the prophet Malachi the Old Testament was closed and with the appearance of Gabriel to Zechariah the silence was over.   

As the New Testament opens, Antipater’s son Herod the Great, was king, and the priesthood was politically motivated, no longer in the line of Aaron. Politics was also divided into two major factions: the Sadducees who favored the liberal attitudes and practices of the Greeks, and the Pharisees who were conservative zealots, who, along with the scribes developed religious law to the point where the concerns and care of the people were essentially meaningless.  

Advent comes at a time of year we are waiting on God to weigh in about our predicaments, to help, to deliver, to solve our problems, to provide, to replenish, and we are ripe for a blessing. Advent is about resting in the perfect care of God and anticipating the fulfillment of His promises. Trusting God’s grace, His love, His forgiveness, and mercy are not only coming, but here with us and we are going to be filled with new hope—we can be filled even now. Knowing Christ is not only coming, but He is here and our empty cups will be running over shortly just like the people of God experienced when God sent Jesus the first time. 

We might come to Advent empty and drained, wanting to hear a word from God, but God will also fill us while we wait for him. In the meantime we can do some much-needed reflection and getting our spiritual house in order to make room for his holiness. 

God, Your silence ended the day You sent Jesus into this world, and into our lives and every day since, our world has been filled up with You. Thank You for sending Jesus who speaks every day through Your 

Spirit and Your word. Amen  

(December 1, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Pray

And deliver us from evil.—Matthew 6:13

(references: My: personal, Our: collective, Name specific individual who needs prayer)

Lord Jesus, 

There’s nothing You cannot deliver us from. You are mighty to save and mighty to deliver us from every earthly and spiritual enemy; even from those personal demons we struggle with inwardly and often secretly which seek to erect strongholds and bring destruction to our life and future. The prayer of the faithful prevails and is powerful (Jas. 5:16) and I pray in faith today for myself and intercede for others to be delivered from every form of evil that tries to separate us from the blessings of peace, joy, health, and living that fruitful life promised in Your word. I pray,   

Lord, you are (my/our/name) Rock, Fortress and Deliverer (2 Sam. 22:2-3) Amen.

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from every form of evil (Matt. 12:22). Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from a spirit of timidity (2 Tim. 1:7) Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from feeling overwhelmed (Matt. 19:26). Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from discouragement and feeling overcome (Isa. 41:10) Amen.

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from anxiety (Deut. 31:8) Amen.

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from guilt and shame (Rom. 8:1) Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from arrogance and haughtiness (Rom. 12:16). Amen 

Lord, You came to give victory, deliver (me/us/name) from defeat (I Cor. 15:55-58) Amen 

Lord, deliver (me/u/name) from a spirit of fear (Psalm 34:4). Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from the troubles that besiege (me/us/name) (Psalm 32:7) Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from sickness (James 5:14). Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from believing (I/we/name) are weak and helpless (Php. 4:13). Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from distress (Psalm 107:6).

Lord, help (me/us/name) forget the former things and deliver (me/us-name) from a spirit of resistance to the new thing You are doing (Isa. 43:19). Amen

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from temptation (I Cor. 10:13) Amen 

Lord, deliver (me/us/name) from having a “worldly” mindset and approach to problem-solving (John 16:33) Amen 

Be Encouraged to pray for deliverance over big and small  

(November 30, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say; “thy have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.” –Psalm 129:1-4, NIV

During our commutes to Michigan over seven years we have seen many-a-field being plowed. Farmers out in their big tractors getting their fields ready for planting which will result in a harvest. 

Today we have tractors so large they have to be climbed into, but during the time Psalm 129 was written farmers plowed their field using a pair of oxen harnessed to a plow they walked behind. Up and down the field they would go, making one furrow after another, making sure to keep them straight and go deep so the seed could they planted could be covered over and not eaten by the birds. 

The psalmist said he felt like people were treating him like dirt, walking all over him. Mistreating him without any regard to his feelings. They were saying “You’re just like a dirty field we’re going to walk over and plow up and down.” 

If you’re a child of God you know exactly what it feels like to be walked on, treated like dirt, disregarded, treated less than human, less than a child of God. You know exactly how the psalmist was feeling when people were treating him like a dirty field. You know exactly how Christ felt when He was on earth in human form. Being mistreated, criticized, plotted against, disregarded by those who did not recognize nor accept Him—even the religious leaders and lawmakers—as God’s own Son, come to earth with salvation in His hands. 

Just like the psalmist learned, there’s something important to know when we’re being treated like a dirty field, being walked on, criticized, maligned, our reputation being sullied, feeling like deep furrows are being made up and down our back: fields that are plowed are also being made ready for harvest. 

The seeds we plant while we’re being mistreated are important. They will tell what we’ll harvest. If we plant seeds of hatred, revenge, getting even, and making plans for retaliation while we’re being mistreated and maligned, we’ll only reap bitterness when the plowing is done. 

Just like the nation had been oppressed, the psalmist says he had been greatly oppressed for a long time; even from his youth but they had not gained any victory over him. In the end he was the one victorious, harvesting the blessings of God. 

But if we want a harvest of blessing in our life, then, when God allows the plowing—whether it’s experiencing trials, troubles, or people treating us like dirt, we must be willing to plant and water our painful experiences with good things. We must be willing to plant good, sow praise, patience, hope, faith in the Lord, a good and godly attitude, making good plans God approves… 

We can keep in mind if there’s plowing there will also be a harvest but what we harvest will depend upon the seed we plant. God has a harvest of blessing planned when your plowing ends so plant the right seed.      

God, when you allow plowing in my life, I can also know without doubt there will be a harvest to follow. Help me plant good things so my harvest is one of blessing.

Be encouraged to bless those who are making their long furrows and treating you like dirt, because you know God is going to bless you when it’s all done.  

(November 27, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness. –Psalm 138:1-3

Charles Spurgeon wrote that “we need a broken heart to mourn our sins but a whole heart to praise the Lord’s perfections.” A whole heart leaves no room for mixed motives or divided devotion.  

Even when David was not at the temple, he made the place where he was a place of worship. His praise of God was not empty adoration. He thought of God’s great lovingkindness toward him, he remembered how God had firmly established His truth, and he meditated on those gifts from God with his entire being.

Today is a good day to praise the Lord with our whole heart. Any day of the year is a good day to praise God with our whole heart. Any day of the year we can stop to consider the goodness, faithfulness, compassion, generosity, providence, forgiveness, unconditional love, and healing power of God.

On the day David made this journal entry he was filled up with gratitude and thankfulness. His life wasn’t perfect. There were always battles to fight, always enemies he couldn’t take his eyes off, always family problems going on, always activities in the kingdom he needed to address, but David was filled with thankfulness. 

He remembered that God is great and cares for the humble yet distances Himself from the proud and arrogant (v6). He remembered whenever he prayed God answered him, encouraged him, and gave him strength (v3). He remembered God’s unfailing love and faithfulness and that His promises are backed by the honor of His name (v2). He remembered though he was surrounded by troubles, God preserved his life and protected him from the anger of his foes (v7). He remembered God would use His power to serve him (v7).

That day, though it was not an exceptional, nor particularly celebratory day, David remembered and his heart was full of thanksgiving as he remembered the Lord’s ways. As he recalled the Lord’s will work out his plan for our life—that His faithful love endures forever and that God would never ever abandon him because He had made him! (v8)

Considering all David was recalling about God, no wonder his whole heart was filled with thanksgiving.  

Lord I will praise you with my whole heart! 

Be Encouraged to open your whole heart and praise God without limits.   

(November 26, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? –Romans 8:31, NIV

The “things” Paul asks about are the dozens of amazing proofs of God’s unfailing love which are listed in the preceding verses. Prior to asking this Paul was teaching on having “life through the Spirit of God” (vs1-17), the Christian’s “present suffering and future glory” (vv18-30), and, as he began teaching on being “more than conquerors” Paul starts out by reminding his audience “if God is for them (us), who can be against them” (us). Each portion building a solid case testifying of God’s fervent love and care for His creation.  

Here is a “think about this” point in his letter. It does not matter who or what else is coming against us; whether it be a human enemy and troubler or a spiritual enemy and troubler—since ultimately all troublers and enemies are spiritual in nature—they are no match for God and cannot stop what God is doing. 

How many times—and we lose count—we have read what God did for His children as they made their way. Beginning with Adam and Eve when the serpent came into the garden and continuing to this day God is with us covering, providing and accompanying us.

As Christ said, in this world we will have troubles—all kinds of troubles—but we can take heart (believe) that Christ has overcome this world (John 16:33). Satan will throw every kind of trouble at us—including the spiritual kitchen sink—but we do not have to be overcome, feel defeated or alone; our God is not only with us but for us! 

Paul gives a memorable word of encouragement for hurting and spiritually weary Christians as he confirms, though we all suffer in this life—and that means from the least to the greatest, oldest to the youngest, male and female—it does not mean that God is not with us or for us. 

The world is fallen, and the environment is one that is hostile to God’s children. But just as St. Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). 

God won’t leave us to wade through the mess, feel our way through the darkness, or fight our battles alone. Because God is for us, who can be against us.

God, another way we can say this is, when you are for us, it doesn’t matter who’s against us! Amen

Be Encouraged to know God is with you and for you!   

(November 25, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” –Galatians 2:20,

You see them all the time. People who live vicariously through others. More and more people live vicariously through their favorite reality show actors or sports figure. Doing as much as they can to imitate the lifestyles of those they see on the TV. Dressing like them, duplicating the things they have, even behaving like they do!

Parents do it all the time. You might be one of those parents yourself. Vicariously living through the accomplishments of their children, enrolling them in all the activities they never got to do as a child, pushing their children to excel in areas they failed or never achieved the heights they wanted. How many memoirs and autobiographies of once child actors include chapters and stories of what it was like to be raised by a parent who found their fame through their child’s accomplishments.  

Living vicariously means committed or entrusted, watching, listening or reading about the activities of others. When we live vicariously through another, we live our life through their achievements and accomplishments. 

In Galatians 2:20 Paul says our goal is to live vicariously through Christ as He lives vicariously through us. That’s exactly what we want to do: to experience one through another. God in us and we in Him. Because we are united to Him by His Spirit.  

It’s not uncommon for Christians to want to live a victorious life. The trouble is we don’t always know how to accomplish that. Victorious living cannot come by placing ourselves under the law—which Christ completed on the Cross of Calvary, or by adopting a humanistic worldview to find out how they can be blessed and experience fulfillment. But our eternal life depends on Christ alone. And we must live vicariously through Him, or we will not live at all. This means more than merely considering Christ as a substitute for us. It means imagining his life as ours, and because of the Gospel, this is actually true and possible! Christ is in us and we in him. 

Because Christ is in us, His own life is in us, His Spirit is in us. He is ours. His joy is ours. His love is ours. His peace is ours. His strength is ours. His power is ours. His very humanity is ours. His relationship with the Father is ours. His prayer is ours. His compassion, mercy and generosity are ours. Christ’s victory over death is ours. Living vicariously through Christ is more than our imitation of Him, it is actually living in Him and Him living in us, living in and through Him.   

Christ, I invite You to live Your life through mine as I live mine through Yours and all You accomplished on the Cross of Calvary. Amen

Be Encouraged to find your life in Christ and let Him live His life through yours.    

(November 24, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Pray

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” –Matthew 9:35-38, NIV

Lord, there’s an old Chinese saying that says,

“If your vision is for a year, plant wheat. If your vision is for ten years, plant trees. If your vision is for a lifetime plant people.”

I need to become eternity-minded. I need to reframe my vison so it’s not short term, not about my immediate needs or circumstances, not about succeeding in my next project, not even about the next or several years to come—but my eternity. 

Lord, I believe Your work on the cross was enough to secure my eternity and redeem me from sin and because it was and is enough, I can stop looking just at the step in front of me, I can look down the road and look forward to the eternity You worked and died to save me for. 

Thank You, Jesus, for valuing people; for valuing me. Thank You for stopping to heal every sick person, for stopping to comfort every hurting person, for taking time to validate and confirm and affirm insecure, hurting and beat-down people. Thank You for planting the seed of eternity in the mind and heart of everyone You encountered. They didn’t need to have a name or special status, but just because they were created by Your heavenly Father; they were special and precious.

Lord, heighten my sensitivity and awareness of others. Just like You were, let my concern for my neighbor, my friends, my family increase, not just about their present need but make me more aware of their need to know and be with You for always. 

Give me the words to say and know when to say nothing at all. Let my life and actions and attitude and heart speak louder than words because becoming all of these will make me a true laborer, harvesting a field that’s ripe and ready. 

Be Encouraged to do more than pass through life without laboring for Christ

(November 23, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. –2 Corinthians 4:2

Paul operated in complete transparency; what you saw was what you got. In his letters and ministry Paul could come down hard on false teachers and deceivers because he did not operate in deception. Once he encountered the Lord Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Paul did nothing that was evil, underhanded or dishonoring or his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When he said he “renounced” all secret and shameful ways he meant it. 

Instead of disgracefully manipulating Gods Word, Paul and his ministry partners state it openly and invite Christians to examine their lives and practices

The definition of “renounce” is as clear as it sounds. To renounce something is to reject and stop using or consuming; to formally declare one’s abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession); to refuse or resign a right or position, especially one as an heir or trustee, refuse to recognize or abide by any longer, declare that one will no longer engage in or support.”

If you’ve been part of a Christian baptism ceremony you may have, along with those gathered, made a strong declaration such as “I renounce the devil and all his ways.” Renouncing begins with a verbal declaration, followed by a strong action. Just as Paul boldly renounced everything that was secretive and shameful we can renounce the things that keep us under the devil’s control, would create suspicion or keep us from being believable as we share the Gospel of Jesus with others.    

We might have things we need to renounce or declare ourselves separated from; no longer having any ties or connections to. We may need to renounce lusts, perversion, immorality, impurity, spiritual uncleanliness or sexual sin. 

We might need to renounce practices of witchcraft and dabbling in the occult, sorcery, and divination. 

We might need to renounce all ungodly soul ties and immoral relationships. 

We might need to renounce hatred, anger, resentment, revenge, retaliation, unforgiveness and bitterness. 

We might need to renounce unforgiveness toward those who have hurt, wounded, abandoned, disappointed mistreated or rejected us. 

We may need to renounce addiction to drugs, alcohol or any legal or illegal substance that has bound us. 

We might need to renounce vows we have taken, covenants or oaths that connect us to ungodly things.

We may need to renounce a spirit of fear and timidity which did not come from God our Father. 

The more we recognize what we are tied and bound to that keeps us from experiencing the approval, blessings and fullness of relationship with God, the more we will be impactful in our witness of Jesus Christ and free in our spirit and conscience.   

The enemy wanted to discredit Paul and his companions. He wanted to make Paul’s preaching and teaching ineffective and weak. But Paul was not going to make it easy for him to accomplish. Paul’s willingness to renounce shameful and secretive things did not make him perfect, instead it put him outside the stronghold of the enemy. While no person—with the exception of Jesus Christ—can be perfect as long as we are alive on earth in these mortal bodies, living transparently and authentically, Paul and his companions could be seen as upright, trustworthy examples, reliable teachers, sincere, and free in the freedom Christ had won for them and us on the cross.

God my Father, in the name of Jesus my Savior, I renounce…

Be Encouraged to search your heart, practices and life to see what you may need to renounce.

(November 22, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. –Isaiah 6:1, NIV 

When Isaiah entered the temple, he had a spiritually moving, and life-changing experience. Isaiah looked up and saw the Lord on His throne with the Seraphim praising Him. He heard the thunderous voice of the seraph and felt the foundations of the temple thresholds tremble. Isaiah’s vision led to a transformation where he emerged with new strength and resolve to serve God.

It was the year that king Uzziah died, and Isaiah was deeply grieved in his spirit; his heart was heavy with sadness. Sometimes when we’re grieved or heavy-hearted it’s hard to see and hear or be aware of anything beyond or outside ourselves and emotions. Had Isaish not looked up he might have not only missed the vision of the Lord, but the transformation that came as a result of what he saw, heard, and felt. 

When Isaiah realized he had come face to face with the sovereign Lord he was frightened. Isaiah was never more aware of his sin and the fact that he was living among sinful people (6:5). Isaiah knew enough about God to know God could have destroyed him if He wanted. Isaiah was prepared to die when God touched his lips, but God had other plans for His servant. He did not want to destroy Isaiah but use him. 

God wanted Isaiah to realize and remember not only is the Lord sovereign He is sufficient. Sufficient to take away Isaiah’s and our sins. Sufficient to lift Isaiah and us out of our grief and any other heaviness of heart and soul. Sufficient to bring healing of every kind to Isaiah and us. Sufficient to meet every need we have materially, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. 

His brief encounter with the living and reigning God reminded Isaiah that God is not only sovereign and sufficient, but He is also compassionate and generous. God could have killed Isaiah, but He chose to be compassionate and generous, He chose to extend grace and mercy and prepare Isaiah for service. In fact, Isaiah would be far more effective having experienced the sovereignty, sufficiency, 

compassion and generosity of God, firsthand. God chose to be compassionate and generous to him.

Just like Isaiah, we are all challenged to look up to the throne of God instead of inwardly and at our immediate circumstances. We all are challenged to remember God is Sovereign, Sufficient, Compassionate and Generous even when our emotions are overwhelming, our heart is full of grief, our bank accounts are empty, and our life is overflowing with troubles. 

Great and loving Father, thank You for always being the Sovereign, sufficient, Compassionate and Generous God you are. You make all the difference in my life. Amen       

Be Encouraged to recognize and praise God for all He is and will continue to be from beginning to end

(November 20, 2024)

   Key Promise to Know and Treasure

May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. –Psalm 20:2, NIV

From the very beginning God has been concerned we have the help we need. After creating Adam and setting him in the Garden of Eden God looked and said, My created being needs help “I will make a helper suitable for him” (Gen. 2:18). So God created Eve. After sin entered and weakened us, confused us, cut us off from God, made us feel helpless and alone, God made sure we had the help we needed by giving us prophets to communicate God’s messages to us. 

Later, at the appointed and promised time God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus not only healed the sick, preached and taught, exposed darkness and provided light so we could see, God used our sinless Savior to clear the needed path to heaven. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised He would not leave us as orphans, but God would send another Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-31). The Holy Spirit not only lives among us atmospherically, but within us, to lead and guide us daily.

What kind of help do you need today? You name it, God will provide it! A God big enough to make this world and keep it going through natural disasters, upheavals, shaking, storms, evil and corruption, and atmospheric changes is big enough to help you with your problems today. No matter where your path in life leads or what kind of trouble you face or encounter, God will help you.  

God is your Helper in your home. God is your Helper when you are moving about. God is your Helper on your job. God is your Helper on vacation. God is your Helper during sickness. God is your Helper when you’re having relationship troubles. God is your Helper when you are raising children. God is your Helper when money is tight or scarce. God is your Helper when all is dark, and trials are more than you can bear alone. God is your Helper when you need to make a change in life. God is your Helper when the unexpected and unpleasant comes. God is your Helper no matter what you need, and He will stay with you as long as you need help. God is your Helper no matter where your path in life leads and if you walk in His will, believe and trust in Him, He will preserve you. God will see you through. 

Here is the one thing you can count on: there is no other kind of help that can help you like God can. No substance or entertainment, no substitute for God’s help can be the help you need. The God who created the heavens and the earth, the same God who has kept the earth on its axis, kept the sun and moon and stars hanging in the sky, kept the water flowing from the heavens to refresh the earth, is big enough to help you with your earthly life and troubles. 

God thank you for being my Help! Today I need Your help to/with…

Be Encouraged to call upon God instead of turning to other sources when you need help.  

(November 19, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. –Matthew 5:9, NIV

The Scriptures make it clear we will occupy one of two positions in life: we will either be a blessing or we will be a battlefield. Some people are troublemakers. They enjoy making trouble. They are peace breakers not peace makers. They’d rather make trouble than harness and share a spirit of peace and unfortunately sometimes we have to live or work with them. People who are battlefields can drain your energy and make you dread their appearance as opposed to people who enter with peace and are a blessing to have around.  

Each of us is either declaring war or declaring peace. Some people enter a situation and peace come with them; they always bless us. Other people walk in, and war follows. If you have the peace of God in your heart then you are definitely a peacemaker and the opposite is just as true: If you lack God’s peace, if you are an enemy and resistant of God’s Spirit who is peace, you are a peace-breaker or walking, talking battlefield.   

One instance in the Bible is described in Psalm 120 where the psalmist is crying out to God about those who are peace-breakers or battlefields. The psalmist says,

“I call to the LORD in my distress, and he answers me. Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues….Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. (Ps. 120:1-2, 5-6).  

The psalmist says, “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war” (vs7). Who can blame the psalmist for being fed up with those who are peace-breakers and battlefields! He was tired of those who hated peace. No doubt they wearied him! Caused him sleepless night. Gave him ulcers. Robbed him of his own peace of mind at times. People who have the peace of God within them don’t enjoy conflict or battling, constantly going at it with others. Just like the psalmist, they just want peace.    

There’s nothing to gain by being a peace-breaker or walking, talking battlefield. Here’s a fact: if you have the peace of God in your heart then you are definitely a peacemaker and the opposite is just as true: If you lack God’s peace, if you are an enemy and resistant of God’s Spirit who is peace, you are a peace-breaker or a walking, talking battlefield on two legs.

When we “are peace” but surrounded by peace-breakers like the psalmist, we can do the same as he did, cry out to God and know God will hear our prayers, see our situation and give us the resolve to continue bringing and embodying peace as we await His promised deliverance.   

Jesus, You were/are a Man of peace; You are the Prince of Peace. May we take after You and reject the spirit of trouble and battle. Amen 

Be Encouraged to know God promises to bless those who bring peace; those who are peace.    

(November 18, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:29, ESV 

My husband and I just returned from a trip. Even though it was only overnight there was a lot to pack. Did we forget something? Of course! As much as we tried it was impossible to anticipate every need we might have even for two days and one night, especially since my husband is still recovering from knee replacement earlier this year. Not having some things at our fingertips or right around the corner made for an uncomfortable night for him, not as restful as when we are at home in our own space, but it was a good reminder of what God has promised when it’s time to come to our eternal home.  

Can you imagine going away to the best place you’ve ever been; the sweetest spot on earth, taking the most luxurious trip to an awesome place that can’t be described in human language and not having to pack one thing? No carry-on needed, not even a toothbrush or your favorite body wash!

Of course, you’ve heard the joke about the man who died and as was their custom, each mourner put money in his coffin so he would not enter his eternity penniless. However, the last man to view his friend’s body, swept up all the money, put it in his pocket and wrote out a sizable check. As he placed it in the coffin he told the astonished mourners, “He won’t mind. He can cash that when he gets to where he’s going.”

What a smart man! This man seemed to know his friend had no need or use for earthly money when he got into eternity. What a waste it would have been to leave the great sum of money in his friend’s coffin where it would only be buried and eventually turn to dust. 

We are reminded that there are riches in heaven, and they don’t decay nor run out. If God supplies our needs on earth, can we begin to imagine how our needs will be supplied in heaven? We will want for nothing in heaven. We’ll have perfect health, perfect homes to live in, perfect clothes that never wear out. We won’t have a need that God cannot fulfill. 

What a beautiful parting gift to be blessed with. No matter how much packing we’ve done in our lifetime, when it’s time to go home to be with God in heaven there won’t be a single thing we need to throw in a bag, not a single thing to pack or prepare for. God has already thought of everything and put it in place for us. Our heavenly home will be furnished. Our heavenly closet is full. Everything from our greatest to our smallest need has been thought through and is waiting for us. If it’s not in heaven we don’t need it. 

What a good, thoughtful, gracious, and providing God we have. He loves us so much!

God, thank you for supplying, not only all our earthly needs, but heavenly needs as well. Will that kind of blessing is hard to wrap our minds around, we know it must be true because you’ve said so. Amen

Be Encouraged to give some thought to all the things God has already provided for your eternity and are waiting for you as home.

(November 17, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Pray

If they fall, they will not stay down, because the LORD will help them up. –Psalm 37:24, GNT

God, teach us to know that failure is as much a part of life as success—and whether it produces something good or bad depends upon the way we view it. If we face  failure with a mindset that we cannot overcome or get back up, thinking that failure defines us, if we are angry and vengeful then failure will serve the purposes of evil, but if we let our failures stand as a guidepost and a warning, if we allow failure to teach us what not to do in the future, if we look at failure as necessary learning experiences, if we understand sometimes failure is more useful to us in the moment than success, if we allow failure both humble and push us to persevering and trying again, then failure can a beacon and a guardian, then failure will surely lead to success. 

Lord, our greatest fear should not be of failing but succeeding in things that don’t really matter. Remind us that failure is not the opposite of success but very often the catalyst that leads to success. Even when we fail let us remember that your grace is sufficient and your power is made perfect in our failures and weakness, and just as you spoke through Solomon “though the righteous fail seven times they will rise again, unlike the wicked who fail and though they appear to get up and succeed afterward their end is not marked by the success that prospers their soul in eternity. 

Lord, because we’ll all fail at some point in our life, we pray, allow our failures to be learning experiences so we can do better next time. Thank You for examples in the Bible that teach us even many great leaders failed at some point, they did not allow their failures to stop them or keep them down but trusted in Your guidance, forgiveness, and direction to guide them to victory. They did not dwell on their failures, not only learned from their failures, then kept moving forward. They understood like we can that failure is only failure when we don’t try again.

Lord, we take to heart what’s been well said before, “It’s better to make a thousand failures than to be too timid or cowardly to ever undertake anything.” In Your name we pray, Amen. 

Be Encouraged to know that failure is not a loss, it’s gain. Through failure we can learn and grow and change. 

(November 16, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word. May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. –Psalm 119:169-170, NIV

Have you ever played the game of Dominoes? Dominoes are a flat, rectangular block made of rigid material such as wood, bone, or plastic. The object of the game is to score as many points as possible in the shortest amount of time by matching opposite ends of the pieces. To be successful in dominoes knowing the rules is important and having a winning strategy, knowing that by placing one tile in a particular way can set off a chain of events. My father-in-law taught me how to play and he was quite competitive, so you had to be on your domino toes whenever you played with him!

I’ve also seen people use domino tiles or pieces to create intricate designs by standing them up on their ends and then, after hours, sometimes days or weeks, gently nudge the lead piece so it falls back on the piece behind it, setting off a chain reaction; thus, being called the Domino Effect.

Sometimes we can experience the domino effect in our life and circumstances. One thing happens or we make—what later turns out to be the best or worst decision of our life—setting off a chain of events that follow. Times when we experience a chain reaction or domino effect due to an activity, or inactivity that turn out to be life changing.

In this final section of Psalm 119:169-176, the psalmist writes about another kind of chain reaction, a spiritual chain reaction that has power to transform our lives by one simple action: 

First the psalmist cries out to the Lord for understanding according to the word and promise of God (v169). 

Next, that cry results in experiencing the freedom God has promised (v170). 

Next, this freedom leads to praise (v171), 

and lastly praise leads to a witnessing to others about the goodness of God’s laws.

All of this amounts to a spiritual transformation that began by one little action: crying out to God! Think of the chain reactions that have happen after you cried out to God for understanding. Sometimes resulting in deliverance or receiving supernatural strength or a holy peace that poured over you, or comfort from God, all resulting in some kind of victory over the situation or sin.  

In many other places in the Scriptures, we learn how one action can result in a beautiful spiritual transformation, one action resulting in a holy domino effect or chain reaction. While Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden set off a chain reaction of sin which resulted in every human after them to be born into sin. But there was another action, this one on God’s part, that set off a spiritual chain of events: God sent His only son Jesus to save us from sin, Jesus died for the sin of the world, we are saved by the action of Jesus, and believing in the work of Jesus on the cross leads to our deliverance from sin, freedom and eternal life. 

As the Apostle Paul often wrote concerning the law of God, without it we wouldn’t know we are sinners and without knowing we are sinful we wouldn’t know our need for God’s mercy, grace or forgiveness. A beautiful domino effect or setting off a chain reaction that results in an amazing spiritual transformation. 

Dear God, let me set into motion the things in my life that result in good things that please you and bless my life. Amen 

Be Encouraged to start something good today that sets the stage for a spiritual chain reaction or domino effect.               

(November 15, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

I call out before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. –Psalm 119:147-148, NIV

When we read the Gospels, we notice how Jesus made it a practice to spend time with His heavenly Father early in the morning, sometimes late at night. How often the disciples were sleeping while Jesus was conferencing with the Father. Even when the greatest Bible conference was being held on the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus, Moses, and Elijah met to discuss the coming event of Jesus’ crucifixion and how He would save the world from sin and bring salvation to earth, the disciples were asleep. They awoke just in time to see the tail end of things as Jesus was glorified and shining bright as the sun.  Luke recorded, 

“Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him” (Luke 9:30-32). 

Another instance was when Jesus was in the garden on the night He was arrested, deep in prayer and urging His disciples to stay awake and watch with Him. Their eyes were too heavy with sleep and when they finally awakened it was to a flurry of activity as Judas and the detachment of soldiers came carrying torches, lanterns and weapons to arrest their Lord and Master (John 18:1-3).

Of course we need sleep. We’re supposed to sleep. In fact, not getting enough sleep can lead to numerous sickness and health issues. But we need to spend time with God also. 

In Psalm 119:145-152 the psalmist said he rose before dawn and cried out to God, found hope in God’s word. He even awoke throughout the watches of the night and opened the Word of God to meditate on God’s promises. It was prayer and meditating in God’s word that gave him strength and helped him cope with life, make it through trials and troubles. Being able to conference with God and meditate in His word was his highest priority and so important to him he was willing to go without sleep. 

Our heavenly Father never sleeps. He’s always awake and open to conferencing. Whether we rise early or stay up late. Whether we go to the farthest reaches, climb the highest peaks or sit by the seashore He is ready to listen, ready to share, ready to conference and like the psalmist, we discover we haven’t lost sleep but made an investment in our spiritual life and eternity.     

God, rising early, staying up late, awaking in the middle of the night to spend time with you is not missing sleep but an investment in our relationship and key to spiritual wellbeing.    

Be Encouraged to let the Spirit rouse you early or lead you to stay up late. There is a blessing in store as the Father invites you to conference with Him at His throne room.        

(November 13, 2024)

  Key Promises to Know and Treasure

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. –Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The world says, “Grab as much power as you can.” But God says, “The greatest among you must be your servant and those who exalt themselves will be humbled.”

The world says, “Just a little more and I will be happy.” But God says, “You will never be content when you are searching for money.”

The world says, “Set your sights on the important needs of life (food, shelter, and family).” But God says, “Set your sights on God who supplies all our needs.”

The World says, Death is the end.” But God says, “Death is only the beginning.”

The world says: "It’s impossible." God says: "All things are possible." (Luke 18:27)

The world says: "I'm too tired." God says: "I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28-30)

The world says: "Nobody really loves me." God says: "I love you." (John 3:16, 34)

The world says: "I can't go on." God says: "My grace is sufficient." (2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 91:15)

The world says: "I can't figure things out." God says: "I will direct your steps." (Proverbs 3:5- 6)

The world says: "I can't do it." God says: "You can do all things." (Philippians 4:13)

The world says: "I'm not able." God says: "I am able." (2 Corinthians 9:8)

The world says: "It's not worth it." God says: "It will be worth it." (Roman 8:28)

The world says: "I can't forgive myself." God says: "I forgive you." (1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1)

The world says: "I can't manage." God says: "I will supply all your needs." (Philippians 4:19)

The world says: "I'm afraid." God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear." (2 Timothy 1:7)

The world says: "I'm always worried and frustrated." God says: "Cast all your cares on Me." (1 Peter 5:7)

The world says: "I'm not smart enough." God says: "I give you wisdom." (1 Corinthians 1:30)

The world says: "I feel all alone." God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

We’ll be in a perpetual state of confusion, messed up in our head and heart if we follow the world’s advice. We can’t begin to count the number of times the advice of this world is in direct conflict with God. This world has a counter to everything God advises and is counterproductive to our spiritual, emotional, mental, financial, relational, and physical wellbeing. 

Thank God, He has not left us to the word’s perspective, opinions, or thoughts on matters pertaining to life today or for eternity. No matter what the world presents or states we don’t have to take at face value, we can consult God’s word and find out what’s true and reliable.

Have you ever wondered what the outcome would have been if, when the serpent entered the garden and approached Eve with his lies, Eve had said “Wait, wily serpent, let me check with God on this, wait until Adam gets here.” Of course, we would not be where we are today. Sin would not have become part of this world, controlling us, dominating our every waking moment, and God would not have had to send Jesus to die in our place. 

But that’s not what happened. Eve did not say “be quiet devil, stop talking trash to me serpent.” She listened to what the serpent had to say and fell for it. Even in the purity of the Garden the serpent found a way to inject lies and deceive. 

When King Solomon was teaching his son, he told him at least four things we should remember today, “Knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord (Pro. 1:7-9), “Wisdom is more valuable than anything this world offers” (Prov. 2:1-5), “Trust in God and His wisdom rather than ourselves and our own wisdom” (Prov. 3:1-12), and “Do not forget or turn away from God and His wisdom” (Prov 4:1-7). There’s so much else Solomon had to advise his son about. Solomon’s wise counsel for his son and us is not only spread out over thirty-one chapters in Proverbs but throughout his writings in Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs.    

When the world wants to be our counselor and give us misleading advice, the Holy Spirit reminds us we have a better, perfect source for finding truth and having a well-lit path: the word of God is marked with God’s wisdom and truth. It is our source to cut Satan off at the path and put the world’s advice in proper perspective. 

God, thank you for Your word. Your advice is always welcome and right on the mark. Amen

Be Encouraged to consult God’s word instead of relying on the world’s direction and advice.       

(November 12, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

The unfolding of your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple. –Psalm 119:130, NIV

There are three conditions we will experience during our earthly life: darkness, dryness and dullness. In Psalm 119:129-136 the psalmist talks about all three conditions.

There are times in life when everything seems dark, we can’t see our way. Times when it seems as though the forces of darkness and evil have converged and are using our life for target practice and we’re feeling every one of their fiery darts and severely oppressed. These are hard times to get through and make each day long and difficult. We can hardly wait for God to turn things around, release us from the chokehold and shed some light so we can finally see our way through.

There are times when life seems dry as dust. Those are times our spirit can’t seem to get enough refreshment or be nourished no matter what we do. We go to church, but we still feel dry, even after worshipping our soul feels brittle. We listen to our favorite Christian artists, but we still can’t shake the dryness we feel in our spirit. We read God’s word but it’s not speaking to us, and we come away as dry as when we entered. Regardless of what we do we can’t seem to shake loose of that feeling. We’re like some of David’s psalms when he is having a desert experience and waiting on God to refresh his dry and parched soul such as he describes in Psalm 63:1.

And there are times we experience dullness in life. As a kid, growing up I the Midwest, I didn’t like January or February. They were the longest months to get through. Not just because they were cold, but because there wasn’t anything fun to look forward to. Christmas was over and the excitement was gone. January and February felt like pure agony to get through. There’s a period of winter when people often refer to them as the “doldrums.” When something is dull it means it’s lacking interest or without excitement. We might experience long and frequent periods when life seems dull, nothing exciting going on: “same-old-same-old; blah-blah-blah.” We’re dragging ourselves through our days, tolerating life and wishing it could be a little more exciting. Some people go as far as trying to create their own excitement just to change things up.

Whichever one of these seasons and periods we experience we can do exactly what the psalmist does in verses 119:129-136: ask God for direction, ask God to guide our footsteps according to His word so that sin doesn’t rule over us, ask God to redeem us from human oppression, and ask God to make His face shine upon us and teach us. 

Life won’t be exciting all the time. Sometimes it will be normal, even dull. At times we will be under spiritual attack even more than usual, and at times we will need to attend to our soul more than usual because it feels dry and lifeless. All of these times are normal, but God is with us to help us through each one. There is no need to either fear or dread life in 3-D!   

God, thank You for helping me get through whatever season and period I am going through. Whether its dryness, darkness or dullness, if I strive to obey Your word then I will come through just fine. Amen

Be Encouraged to stay in the word of God so your soul is always saturated in every season of life.      

(November 11, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

As for God, his way is perfect: the LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. –Psalm 18:30, NIV

Nobody’s perfect. Have you ever heard someone say that? Maybe you’ve said it a time or two yourself. Perhaps after you made a blunder or disappointed someone even though you had tried your best. It’s true. Nobody is perfect. Everyone has flaws and shortcomings. It’s one thing to set high standards for ourselves or others, but if we are holding ourselves or others to unfair or unattainable standards of perfection, then, that’s a losing battle and we will be disappointed every time.

Human beings are God’s creation, but God didn’t create sinners, flawed people. We were perfect when God created Adam and Eve and set them in the Garden of Eden. It wasn’t until the serpent entered and tempted Eve, then Eve convinced Adam to sin against God, and after that all human beings were born sinful. David and Paul remind us, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Ps. 51:5) and “we’re all in the same boat and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). 

It's true. Some don’t see their flaws. They are much better at pointing out the flaws of others, but not themselves. Even the nicest person has flaws. Not even the kindest people are without flaws, even the most goodhearted person sins. The longer we are around them the easier it is to recognize that they are not perfect. For this reason, we should be more compassionate, understanding, patient, and forgiving of others and they of us.  

When the frailties, flaws, and shortcomings of others disappoint us we can put our gaze on God. Accepting people cannot be perfect can give us a sense of peace. Even God sees us for who we are. In Psalm 103 God says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust (103:13-14). 

No matter which way we look at God we see God is perfect in every way. It’s not only God’s laws that are perfect, God’s heart is perfect. God’s nature is perfect. God’s ways are perfect. God’s thoughts and plans toward us are perfect and perfectly suited for us. When the frailty, flaws and shortcomings of others disappoint us we can put our gaze on God, be encouraged and be at peace.  

Because God is perfect in every way, we can know He will never do anything less than perfect in our lives. Our earthly circumstances may not be perfect we may have more problems and complications than we can number, but we can rest assured God is working out a perfect solution to every problem we face. 

At the end of a complex life filled with lots of gray areas we can take comfort in knowing God has worked out a perfect ending through His Son Jesus Christ. Earthly life is imperfect. People are imperfect. We are not perfect, but there is an ending to all this imperfection. As imperfect, sinful people we may not be able to attain levels of perfection, but we can have faith in our perfect God who does not fail us. We can have faith in Jesus Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God, and we can strive with the Holy Spirit who perfectly guides, fills and leads us into all truth.

We’re not perfect but God is and that’s all that matters after all.

God Your ways are without flaw, making You a reliable protector for those who trust in you. Amen   

Be Encouraged knowing in a broader theological context, Psalm 18:30 reminds us of God’s unwavering faithfulness and encourages us to take refuge in Him. 

(November 10, 2024)

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, NIV 

God, you assured Jeremiah You had a plan for his life, and You revealed that plan over time. Your plans for Jeremiah included spiritual prosperity and covering.  Jeremiah was destined to be Your faithful servant; speaking what You directed him to speak and doing what You directed him to do. 

I believe you have a plan for everyone you bring into this world. I believe you have a unique plan for my life, though sometimes it’s hard to detect and identify under all this chaos. I ask to understand and have revelation of Your will and purpose for my life and I pray, give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation and let the eyes of my understanding be opened and enlightened (Eph. 1:17). I know the moment I start to understand heavenly things; understand the events and activities of my life from a higher plain and not just from a worldly perspective—the light bulb will come on; I’ll have a spirit of endurance and I’ll be able to walk hand-in-hand with You. I’ll be filled with a peace even when tough times come. I’ll have a sense of joy that confounds the enemy and I’ll be walking with you instead of pulling back or against You. 

Lord, reveal the things that belong to me (Deut. 29:29) and let me be a good steward of every gift and ability You permit me to have (I Cor. 4:1). More than anything Lord, let me do as Paul wrote and “comprehend with all the saints who love and worship You, what is the breadth and length and depth and height of Your love.” (Eph. 3:18). This, O Lord, will bless me more than anything You can send, give or share with me.

Be Encouraged to seek God’s purposes for your life.     

Are your customers raving about you on social media? Share their great stories to help turn potential customers into loyal ones.

Customers have questions, you have answers. Display the most frequently asked questions, so everybody benefits.

(November 8, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. –Revelation 19:16, NIV

Have you noted, fresh out of an election cycle, how elections test us? Elections test our values and expose what we value (most). They test our sense of fairness, compassion, and our belief—or lack thereof—of justice. They test our levels of tolerance, and they test our loyalty to God and the precepts He’s called us to live by. They test other things too like our sense of civility and decency, our willingness to accept that it’s possible to disagree on approaches to addressing problems without making us enemies. 

Elections can expose our immaturity where we all too easily revert to childish behavior and resorting to throwing tantrums until we get what (who) we want in the place we want them. Stomping our feet, kicking our legs, rolling around on the proverbial floor if it looks like we’re not going to get our way. More than anything elections can expose the ways we are deeply divided and unyielding. 

In the Book of Samuel (8:4-6) we read how the people became jealous of other nations who had earthly kings and approached Samuel, demanding to do the same. They liked the thought of having a king like them. One they could see instead of a God they could not. Even though Samuel warned them that kings would lay heavy burdens on a nation. Still, that did not deter them and God told Samuel to give them what they wanted (I Samuel 8:4-22).

God stated some things we live with to this day. An earthly king would not be perfect in their ruling. If the people elected a king, they should realize there would be cycles of good kings—those who listened to and followed the word of God—and bad kings—those who had no desire to hear from God or be led by Him. 

Under God-fearing kings, the people would have all they needed and not be overly burdened, but under the rule of a bad king they would experience types of suffering they had not known before. The ungodly have no fer of God, nor compassion for humankind in their heart. 

After the completion of the temple God made a promise to Solomon He still holds to today. God promised Solomon if His people, called by His name would humble themselves God would hear from heaven and heal their land.

Perhaps more than any other time, we need to revisit God’s promise to Solomon after we have experienced an election cycle and selected a new leader. After an election—any election—we have much to feel humbled by, much to feel embarrassed about, much to apologize to one another, much to confess to God. But we can be certain if we, as God’s people will truly humble ourselves and confess our sins, our inhumanity to man, our disregard for God’s commands, our selfishness, or God, God will hear from heaven, turn toward us, heal our hearts, heal our divisions, and heal our land. That’s especially important since we must all learn to occupy this great big world—that isn’t so big after all—together until Christ returns. 

Lord, look upon us with pity and have mercy on us after we have come through yet another election period. One day we’ll be at home in heaven where there is only one Ruler, one King and Ruler.  

Be Encouraged to hold healing conversations with others after an election is over.     

(November 7, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet, and a light for my path. –Psalm 119:105, NIV

During the time this psalm was written the world was a dark place. Though there was plenty of light during the daytime hours, at night it was difficult to see where you were going. In Palestine, for example those who went out at night could attach small lanterns to their ankles so they could have a way of seeing where they were walking and were less likely to stumble on the rocks or fall into a hole in the ground. It wasn’t a perfect solution. It didn’t solve all the darkness but it helped some.  

Wouldn’t the people living during the time this psalm was written, be flabbergasted at how much light we can generate today after the sun goes down! Even on the darkest night when the moon is hidden by clouds we don’t have to stumble around. We can see through God's eyes; we can see what's been hidden and what lies ahead or in front of us. We can see in high and low places. 

Spiritually speaking, the world is a dark place. It does not matter what time of day or how much sunlight is coming in, it’s still dark and it doesn’t matter how well we manage to light our spaces after the sun goes down, it’s still a dark place. The world is in a constant state of moral and intellectual decline and darkness. It’s no coincidence that we are more educated than ever before yet have less and less wisdom. Even though we are well-educated people we manage to make foolish decisions and think we are smart. It becomes clearer and more obvious each passing day that Satan has numbed the minds of people and what Paul preached so long ago is true to this day. Paul said there would be a time when people would no longer seek wholesome teaching but follow their desires and look for teachers who would tell them whatever their “itching ears” wanted to hear (2 Tim. 4:3). 

With so much darkness, the question is, “How do we make it through this dark world? Since our own intellectual and worldly light is not effective or helpful, how do we see clearly? The psalmist reminds us that the word of God is a lamp to guide us; the light we need to illumine our path. God’s word is a light that leads to life and becomes a blessing for us. 

We can be comforted knowing the lamp of God’s word will not go out. We can depend upon it in every age and generation to guide us safely on the paths God has marked out for us. We don’t have to worry that it will disappear, leaving our children, grandchildren or those coming behind us, stumbling around in this dark world without heavenly guidance. As long as even one of God’s children live on earth His word will provide light for our path.

God teaches us to walk by patience and by His promises. When we walk by faith in God we can see as far as He wants us to see; even when it’s only one step at a time. God does not disappoint those who rely upon Him and turn to His word for guidance. 

God, thank You for the light You provide in this dark world. Though others may stumble through, I can be surefooted because I have Your word to lead and guide me. Amen

Be Encouraged to thrive in life and spiritually by depending upon the word of God for guidance.   

(November 6, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

He must increase, but I must decrease. –John 3:30

John the Baptist had accomplished the mission he was born to fulfill. He was the forerunner of Christ, sent to prepare people for the coming Messiah. When Jesus entered the scene John knew his task was done. He had no qualms about becoming less and pointing others—even his own disciples—to Jesus, the Lamb of God and light of the world. 

In one conversation speaking of Jesus, John said, “He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie…The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me” (John 1:27, 29-30). The last public act John did was baptizing Jesus in the Jordan river.

John the Baptist knew Jesus is the Lamb of God, Savior, and light of the world but He’s also our light and personal Savior. John knew when it was time for him to decrease and Jesus increasing would take things to the next level just as God the Father planned.

When we decrease and allow Jesus to increase, He becomes our personal light that lights our way, our personal Savior to save us, our personal wisdom to help us in life, our personal Healer to heal us, our personal Promise-Keeper to fulfill all the promises of God written for us. 

In order for Jesus to increase we must not only decrease but allow the Holy Spirit to move us beyond passive acceptance of Jesus as Savior to a personal claiming and declaring Him as our Lord. Our Savior. Our Redeemer.

When we decrease and allow Jesus to increase, Jesus’ truth enters and every lie that has trapped and held us captive is exposed. Jesus’ strength enters and our weakness is no longer in control. Jesus’ confidence takes over and our fears evaporate. When we decrease and allow Jesus to increase, we realize we are no longer operating under our own power, but His: our confusion vanishes and Jesus’ clarity takes over, doubt exits, and faith steps up. This is a beautiful thing and miraculous moment.

We can only experience the fullness of heavenly blessings when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and take the back seat, decrease and let Jesus take the wheel of our lives. When we decrease and allow Jesus to increase, our life changes because our way of looking at life and our circumstances changes.

When we decrease and allow Jesus to increase, we should not be astonished at the dramatic way life turns around and we begin heading in a different direction, the right direction under the right power.

Jesus, I will not be afraid to decrease, and I ask You, beginning today to increase so I can experience all the newness and change needed in my life. Amen 

Be Encouraged to thrive by decreasing and letting Jesus increase. 

(November 5, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” –Genesis 16:13, NIV

There’s no greater relational gift than to have someone see the real you and value it. We all want to be noticed, known, and loved. From Genesis to Revelation, we learn how God leaves no stone unturned to create a bond between Him and His special creation. He takes time to know us and reveal Himself to us in so many ways that we might know Him also. Whether through verbal communication (prayer) or the lived experience (action).

It is a good feeling to know our God—the most powerful force in the universe not only wants to have an intimate relationship with us but is available and willing to work on our behalf. Have we asked ourselves (or God) why He is willing to serve us, to work overtime and so hard for us to assure we can return to Him at the end of our earthly journey.

Maybe we have read that God said we are the crown of his creation (Gen. 1:26) or what Solomon wrote, “The eyes of God are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good (Prov. 15:3). Or how David reminds us we are the “apple of God’s eye” (Psalm 17:8). Wow! The apple of God’s eye. Precious in God’s sight, we are never out of His sight.

How does knowing you are the “apple of God’s eye” make you feel? Confident? Comforted? Happy? Peaceful? Special? Valued? Affirmed? Blessed, and highly favored? Knowing we are seen by God and that He wants to know us should make us feel all that and more!

Being seen by God is more than God having a visual of us. More than God knowing what we are doing every minute of the day or day of the week. It is a thoroughness and awareness that only our Maker can have.

David knew he was the apple of God’s eye and God had hidden him in the shadow of His wings. He knew that God would keep an eye on him and protect him. He knew without a doubt he was precious to God. The world’s a big place and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd; easy to get swallowed up by the big, pressing, dire needs of others and the world. But there’s no chance of that when we belong to God. No matter how many people are alive during the time we are. No matter how many people are having troubles when we are. No matter how many people are struggling or going through hardships or suffering sickness in their body while we are experiencing difficulties, we will never get lost. God will always see and know us.

God, what a delight knowing that you see me!

Be encouraged to thrive in your relationship with God by determining to see and know God as much as humanly possible.

(November 3, 2024)

Key Promise to Pray and Treasure

Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. –Ecclesiastes 11:6

God, 

Solomon was a man of wisdom. He sowed seeds of wisdom into the heart of people and to this day they are producing a crop and paying off. 

God, You move in mysterious ways. We never know when a seed we’ve planted will take root and grow. WE don’t know when that seed will produce crops numbering in the tens, hundreds or thousands, reaching and spreading out, impacting our circumstances and touching the lives of others. 

Just like the farmer who plows his field and places seed in the ground; he hopes in faith they will grow and produce a crop from that seed. So, the farmer plants his seed and looks up to the sky, prays to the God above for sunshine and rain. He does not give up hoping, praying and watering. Until we see those tender shoots above ground, let us have faith to keep planting, keep watering our seeds, keep praying over our seeds, keep hoping and trusting our efforts will not go unrewarded. 

As the Scriptures say, let us not grow weary in doing good for in due season we will reap if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9). So let us not grow weary or tire of doing good (dreaming big, planting our seeds in hope, trusting in your miraculous touch to do great things for our small, human efforts. 

Lord there is no need to become discouraged when we don’t see results right away. Let us always remember just because we don’t see anything above ground does not mean you are not working in the secret places, starting things we cannot detect with the human eye or sense yet. Doesn’t mean you are not working on our behalf or planning to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can think, ask or imagine. 

Lord, I believe the seed I have to sow is powerful. I believe my seed will produce good things. I believe my seed of peace will produce peace. I believe my seed of love will result in love. I believe my seed of hope will generate widespread hope. I believe my seed of faith will walk me into the blessings You have for me. I believe me seed of joy will not be wasted but will shift the atmosphere around me. I believe the seed I have for sowing is powerful and already blessed by You for growth.

Wherever I sow my seed there will be success and prosperity and it will be impactful. I pray, give me energy to sow the good you have given me and let the seed I sow produce the amazingly abundant crop you have ordained it to produce. Amen    

Be Encouraged to sow your seed knowing God gives the increase.   

(November 2, 2024)

 Key Promise to Treasure

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. –Matthew 24:35, NIV

There are several things we learn about God’s Word as we read our Bible. One is that God’s Word is true. Two, God’s Word is eternal. And three, God’s Word is changeless. Each fact can bring us comfort, peace of mind, confidence and certainty in a world that lacks truth, longevity, and stability. In a world where nothing is settled, not the contracts we negotiate or put in writing—which are violated, renegotiated later and argued in court. Not the laws we pass—which are changed and interpreted by some at a later date so they don’t carry the weight they once did, and not even our own word or promises—which are sometimes disputed, twisted, misconstrued by others to mean something entirely different than what we originally said.

Thankfully, the strength, solidness and stability of God’s Word stand out as a beacon amid the instability and vacillations of life. Because God’s Word is true, eternal and changeless we can trust and live by it without batting an eye. Not even an incorrect interpretation will change the truths or solidness of God’s Word because God is changeless just as the Scriptures assure us. God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore (Heb. 13:5) and as some love to say, “God has said it, and I believe it.”

If we want to know about sin, death, salvation, eternal life, forgiveness, love and mercy we can read God’s Word. God’s verdicts, decisions, and promises have stayed the same—just like He is—and we can trust them.

God’s Word settles it. He has declared it. We don’t have to worry if God still forgives sin; it’s in His Word. We don’t have to wonder if God still loves us with an everlasting love; it’s written in His Word. We don’t have to speculate whether eternity in heaven will be our reward after a life of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; it’s the focus and subject matter from Genesis to Revelation. We don’t have to wonder if God is still passionate and compassionate toward the poor, the old, the young, the downtrodden and oppressed as he once was; God repeats Himself about the needy and dependent more times than we can count.   

There is peace for the child of God knowing God’s Word settles even the matters the world continues to grapple with from generation to generation. We don’t have to be tossed or turned or full of anxiety or uncertainty. Is there a question that we struggle with. Have we read the Word of God because He’s not only answered it, He’s settled it.

God, not much is settled in this life, but You have made sure the things You have written or said are settled and will not change. Amen

Be Encouraged to trust in Gods Word and know what He’s spoken is settled and will not change.

(November 1, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. –Psalm 46:1-3, NIV

Some days everything seems to go wrong: the basement floods. The roof leaks. The garbage disposal backs up right before dinner. The car stalls in rush hour traffic. We come home to find an eviction notice on our front door. The sitter cancels at the last minute. More bills than we have money arrive in the mail. Our checking account is overdrawn. The dog really did eat our work. We get pulled over for going three miles over the speed limit and we’re already late for work. Someone gets promoted over us though we were next in line…  

In this world there is no end to the things that can go wrong. Those are the days our hopes dwindle; our hope cup not only runs low but is depleted. We want to give up. Our weariness catches up with us and all we feel like doing is crawling in a hole and pulling the cover over our head.

On our very bad, chaotic, extremely rough, difficult and shaking days God’s not standing idly by—like those unresponsive manmade idols and gods we read about in the Old Testament, or the ones some create for themselves today—but He’s active during our stormy, black-cloud days.

If we can force ourselves to be still, take the emotion out, step back and see from a God or heavenly perspective, breathe instead of becoming reactionary, remember “God is still God” instead of panicking, take our hands off the wheel, stop micromanaging, we can see and sense God at work, doing something new. We can see God moving some things around, arranging some miracles and ordering some blessings with our name on them.

When we’re having our very bad days we can depend on God. God is our Helper. He can also be our Comfort and He’s always faithful. God is able to give us the reviving power we need to rise above our circumstances.

God, thank You for Your constant and consistent care. Even on my worst days You are in the midst and working out a blessing with my name on it. Amen

Be Encouraged

To consider what God may be doing or working on when bad days come.  

(October 31, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Your hands mad me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. –Psalm 119:73, NIV

What’s the first thing you do when you purchase or receive something new? Do you begin using it right away because it looks simple enough to operate, or do you take time to read the manual or set of instructions that come with it, so you know how to operate it properly? So, you can become acquainted with all the features and learn what to do if it’s not operating properly or at full capacity?

During the years we were raising our children my husband and I often joked, “too bad they weren’t born with a little instruction manual attached to their big toe!” How many other parents may feel this same way! In fact, how many of us wish there were some kind of manual to refer to concerning our own bodies or lives!

God says there is such a manual and it’s been around longer than any of us have been alive on earth. It’s called the Bible. The Word of God is an instruction Book to help us not only live this earthly life the way God intended when He created us and the first humans, but the manual we can refer to understand the bodies we live in and how to live in this dark and confused world.

David wrote that God created our inner being. That part we cannot see but God has seen and touched personally. He knit us together in our mother’s womb and we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:13-14). 

The Word of God will tell us how to use our mouth, our ears, and our eyes and how we’ll know when our heart is healthy. It will tell us the best way to think, how to be productive, what to do with our hands and which direction our feet should be pointed. It will instruct us about our relationships and our emotions, and the best way to use our days and nights, and what our life should be like as children, young people, married, singles, and as older adults. By the time we return home to heaven our Bible should be dog-eared, marked, and barely hanging onto the binder from so much use and referring. 

The Bible will also make sure we know the thousands of promises God has made to us. Those promises and instructions our arch enemy counts on us not knowing anything about and puts in a lot of time and energy keeping us separated from them. 

How sad that we attempt to live our life without referring to the manual God has written to guide us and teach us; that we don’t make reading and learning it a daily practice. How perplexing that, even when our life is falling apart, we don’t quickly pick up our manual and familiarize ourselves with what God has told us to get us through. 

Thankfully, even when we begin using our manual late in life we can experience healing and insight and learn how to turn our situations around and cause even the disasters and disappointments, tragedies and heartbreaks we have experienced into something good and profitable.  

God, Your Word covers the spectrum for life and provides guidelines for living in truth. When life presents problems and challenges, we can refer to it and it will help us align with Your purposes for our life. Amen  

Be Encouraged 

to explore God’s Manual for living so you can gain insight into human nature become more self-aware and learn how to solve mysteries and problems.   

(October 30, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. –Matthew 6:33, NLT

It’s been said what we love the most is what we’ll invest in the most; what we treasure the most is what we’ll guard the most. It all comes down to what we value the most.

Values are the things we regard the most, have importance, worth, or the usefulness of something. But its also a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life. They are our beliefs that govern our life and determine our behavior. 

When we read the Gospels its easy to see that Jesus valued His relationship with the Father. He valued obedience to the Father. And He valued human life and eternity. Jesus came to give His own life that we might live eternally. He lived what He taught His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). Jesus placed such high value on securing eternity life for us that He was willing to leave the comfort, riches, and security or heaven in order to live on earth in human form and endure the sufferings we experience, be harassed by people and the forces of evil, and suffer and die on a cross so our eternal wellbeing would be secured.

When we value something, like Christ, we are willing to sacrifice for its well-being.  We are willing to give our all to assure it is well and living. The things we value, or treasure determine our values and principles as we live out this life. Many value the things of this world: material possessions, fame, status, etc. and these are so important to them they are willing to make great sacrifices in order to secure them; they would lay down their life to attain them. The things of earth may seem worth it at the time, but unfortunately, they have no lasting value. Jesus said if we seek first, put all our effort and learn to value the things of heaven and eternity they will determine our values and behavior. 

It’s easy and tempting to let the world determine what we treasure and value. We learn to value things by the examples of others, by what the world suggests, by the things the devil cleverly presents and makes alluring, and by the things we are naturally drawn to when our flesh or worldly mindset are in control. What we value shapes our core values and behaviors. 

Until we begin to invest in the Kingdom of God and Kingdom living our values will be misplaced, mixed up and confused, but once we learn to treasure and value the same things Jesus treasured our values are aligned properly. One thing is for sure: if the Bible does not change our values, it will not change our lives. 

Lord, help me recognize and value the things that matter most so my values and principles are aligned just as they should be. Amen

Be Encouraged to examine your core values and ask Jesus to help you realign any that have no lasting or eternal value.      

(October 29, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. –Proverbs 16:9, MSG

It’s a great feeling when life goes the way we plan isn’t it? As human beings we don’t really care for things not going the way we plan, and few people have no ideas or thoughts about how they want life to be for them. Most have at least a general plan in their head or thoughts. 

We don’t plan to become sick, but still sometimes sickness—not just colds or viruses that pass in a short amount of time—but sickness that comes and changes the way we live or impacts our day to day and quality of life happens to us.

We don’t plan to be so poor we spend our life struggling financially, constantly trying to make ends meet, stressed over bills and meeting monthly obligations, scraping for everything. Still, sometimes we end up having deep financial struggles that cannot be helped or easily overcome.

We don’t plan for our marriage to fail. But still, no matter how hard we try to make it work, it just doesn’t work out and we end up joining the ranks of the divorced.

We don’t plan for our children to go down the wrong tracks or become rebellious and get caught up with the wrong crowd, or end up in prison, but no matter how well we parent and how much God we pour into them, it still happens; our children nor grandchildren are not immune. 

We don’t plan to spend our life battling addictions, in and out of recovery or programs but it happens. Even good, God-fear people can sometimes be plagued with addictions that are hard to overcome.    

Our plans for how life should go for us don’t include our home catching on fire or flooding or being flattened by strong winds but that’s the way life goes sometimes.

Proverbs 16:9 states that the mind of a person plans his or her way, but the LORD directs how it goes in the end. Ultimately it is God who determines the course of our lives. That’s not saying that it’s God who plans our disasters, makes us addicted, or makes our children become wayward and Solomon isn’t saying that we shouldn’t make plans. On the contrary we are to map out a plan as best we can with the Lord’s counsel and in good faith. 

We make plans for our life because we realize how precious life is—it is the life God has given us—and it shouldn’t go unused or taken for granted. We make plans because we want to make the most of the life and time we have. We make plans because God has given us vision and desires and laid out opportunities before us. But we are to trust God when things don’t go as we planned. We are to make plans but know that even when things don’t go according to plan God is still with us to help us make a good life out of the life we have even when it looks different from the one we envisioned.

Life seldom goes exactly as we’ve planned or want. There are always twists and turns, unexpected and disappointments; that’s earthly life. God allows things to happen in our lives in order to keep us humble, grounded, and provide opportunities to realize who the Author and perfector of life is: God alone. 

But even when life isn’t going the way we planned God’s practical advice and counsel can be found in His Word and through godly and wise people He places in our paths. If we trust God we might even be surprised that the life we didn’t plan and didn’t want ends up being even better than the plans we had.     

God, I have plans but if things don’t go the way I’ve planned I trust You. Help me be open to Your guidance and not be so rigid that I miss the blessing You have in store for me through the unexpected. Amen    

Be Encouraged to trust God even when life isn’t going the way you planned and hoped.       

(October 28, 2024)

I no longer call you servants, because a servant doesn’t know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. –John 15:15, ESV 

Friendships are part of God’s blessing and provision for us on earth. Martin Luther described them as part of the daily bread God supplies His children.

We might enjoy friendships where we talk quite often and other friendships where we only talk occasionally but the friendship still has special qualities that are unique, and we treasure. I have a friend I don’t get to talk to very often, but our friendship has lasted decades. Some years we talk several times during the year and at other times we do well to talk a few times. That makes no difference because whenever we do talk it’s as though we just spoke recently. Our catching up is a joy.  

Friends are also those you can be together for long periods without saying a word. To the other extreme friends are those you might talk to all the time, aren’t afraid to talk to, and share the burdens of your heart. When you have true friends, you know you are a better person for having been in relationship with them.

God is the best friend we’ll ever have, and we can strive to be God’s friend also just like Abraham, David, Moses, Mary, Martha, Lazarus and so many others we read about in the Bible. They were regular people, sinful human beings, but had a very close relationship with the Lord. They weren’t super religious or spiritual; just ordinary people who made mistakes, sometimes chastised by God, sometimes they didn’t get it right, but still they and God were friends.  

In the Gospels we see how Jesus wasn’t just the Teacher and Master of His disciples. They became Jesus’ friends and Jesus was their friend. Jesus assured them, they were more than His servants who would carry out the duties assigned to them, they were also His friends and whatever the Father told him, He would share with them. That was a true, intimate friendship!

Do you long to be God’s friend? It’s possible. Saint James wrote that “if we draw close to God, God will draw near to us” (James 4:8), that’s a promise! God looks for the same qualities in friendship as we do with our earthly friendships. He's not expecting us to be perfect, He already knows we are nothing but frail as dust humans, He only expects us to be loyal, available, in communication, honest and willing to stick with Him through thick and thin.  

If God is going to accomplish everything He desires upon the earth; if Jesus is going to accomplish everything He desires through the Christian Church; if the Holy Spirit is going to have a clear path to move and have His way they need earthly friends who desire and value friendship with them.

Just as God blessed Abraham in special ways because Abraham was His friend, God will also bless us. 

There are rich rewards and blessings for those who make it a point not only to serve the Lord, but to be in friendship with Him.  If we start with the basics: a heart desire, daily communication, reading God’s Word, having faith in him, listen to Him and do our best to obey His commands, He’ll direct our hearts so we can be His friend, and He will be ours.

Lord, I want to be Your friend like Abraham, the disciples and many others. I don't know where to begin, so I ask You to lead the way and help me be the best friend to You I can be. Thank you for forgiving my shortcomings and help me grow in this area. Amen

Be Encouraged to become friends with the Lord

(October 27, 2024)

 Key Promise to Pray and Treasure

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or your brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. –Psalm 90:1-2, NIV

Lord, before the mountains were or before You shaped and created the world You existed: You are God. 

Lord, home is where the heart is. 

Home should be the place where the heart finds solace, where memories are made and where there is love. 

Home should be the place where we can return and get our bearings in a crazy, chaotic, mixed up, messed up world but sometimes our earthly homes are not the safe, comforting or inviting places they should be. 

Thank You, Lord, for being my dwelling place, my shelter from danger and hardship, thank You for being my holy habitation. 

Thank You, Lord, for being my home when I feel lost, confused, bombarded, homeless, and my spirit drifts toward the jagged edge of my problems. Help me remember to turn to You for help, for in You there is rescue, refuge, and peace; all the things home should provide for weary sojourners. 

Thank You for being that home which no fire can burn, no flood can wash away, no storm can shake, no bank can take away, no abuse can torment, where loneliness does not exist, and Satan cannot come near. 

Thank You, Lord, that I can run home to be with You, be safe and comforted, and have time to restore and reset. 

Thank You for being the Place I can be when I face dangers. I am safe when I come home, Lord. Thank You, that there is always a place for me in Your heart. 

Lord, as the old hymn goes, You are my help from ages past, my hope for the years to come, my shelter from the stormy blasts and my eternal home.     

God, this world is not my home, but I am looking forward to my everlasting home in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Be Encouraged to make God your home.     

(October 26, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray. –Matthew 6:7-9, GNT

Has anyone ever given you a “sob” story? A “sob” story is a story or explanation intended to make someone feel sympathetic toward us. It’s when we lay it on really thick. Play on someone’s emotions. The intention is to gain something we want (or need) by moving them in such a way they feel deep pity or feel sorry for us and respond to our need. Sometimes, because our sob stories have worked so well with others we think we need to present a sob story to God when we come to His throne with a need. 

Jesus told his disciples when they prayed, they didn’t need to use a lot of words, they didn’t need to present a long drawn out explanation of their need to the Father. Just come out and ask for whatever they wanted or had on their mind. 

Jesus goes on to demonstrate the simplicity of prayer by giving them a simple guide and model for Christian prayer (Matt. 6:9-13). 

When we’re in dire straits God already sees and God already knows the particulars and how we got that way. He knows all the details, ins and outs, who did what, the why’s and where’s. He knows when we’re powerless, our part, or if we had a part at all. God knows all of that and He already knows how He’s going to answer our pray and make things comes out for His glory and for our good.

We don’t need to soften God’s heart up or stumble through a set of “presenter” prayers before asking or talking to God about what’s really on our heart or mind. Since we and God already know whatever we’re asking for is beyond what we deserve, and everything God supplies and does is out of his merciful, compassionate, generous, caring, loving, and gracious heart.

God has promised to care for us our entire life. He’ll never renege on that promise. He’ll listen to our sob stories, but they aren’t necessary. The moment we bow our head or bend our knees and call Him Daddy, Father, Lord, or God, He is moved with great love for us. He’ll answer our prayers and supply our needs according to His will for us.

Thank You, God, that I don’t need a sob story. I can just come to Your throne of grace and ask for what I need; talk to You about whatever is on my heart and mind. Amen

Be encouraged to talk to God knowing you don’t need a sob or any other story to receive when you need from Him.     

(October 25, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. –Psalm 119:11, NLT

Have you ever hidden something so well when you returned for it you could not find it? For the life of you, could not remember where you’d hidden it? I know I have! It’s a terrible feeling not to be able to locate something you had hidden away on purpose. 

We only hide things that are valuable or important to us. People have all kinds of places they hide their valuables. Sometimes people have cleverly disguised wall safes in their homes. Years ago, someone came up with an idea to hide our door key in a hallowed out fake rock outside our home. Some put their valuables inside containers that look like canned goods placed on the shelf. Clever. 

Our heart is a safe place to hide God’s word. When we hide God’s word in our heart, we are getting closer to Him and bringing Him close to us like Saint James said in his letter (Jas. 4:8). 

The psalmist said by hiding God’s word in our heart it will keep us from sinning against Him. And God told Moses that the words He had given his people should be hidden in their heart, in other words treasured and held dear. (Deut. 6:6). Paul wrote that we should let the word of Christ dwell deeply or richly within us (Co. 3:16), and Isaiah said God will keep in perfect peace everyone who keeps their mind on Him (Isa. 26:3). 

We may not realize it, but every time we read our Bible, study God’s word or meditate on what we hear and read we are hiding God’s word in our heart. We don’t have to go around spouting Bible verses all day to have evidence that God’s word is hidden in our heart. It will be proven by our thoughts and words and actions, the viewpoints that we have and through the decisions we make. 

When we hide God’s Word in our heart we become spiritually and morally rich. We have a built-in security system. It will guard and keep us. It will lead and guide us. It will counsel us and influence our conscience. It will comfort and assure us. It will heal us and strengthen us. There are no ends to the benefits of hiding God’s word in our heart. As it’s written, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to our path” (Ps. 119:105)

God, you have made a way to keep my heart pure. May I always hide Your word in my heart where I can find it again and always! Amen

Be Encouraged to read God’s Word, study God’s Word and meditate on God’s Word daily so it is hidden in your heart to become a blessing to you.     

(October 24, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. Your statues are my delight; they are my counselors. – Psalm 119:23-24, NIV  

In your journey have you had the occasion to encounter people in high or influential places who didn’t like you or decided to speak ill of you, block you from advancing or receiving something for no reason? What about those who slander or gossip about you with nothing credible to back up their words? It would be so easy to allow their actions and negative campaign to control what you do or how you go about your day. So easy to allow your mood or actions to be impacted, colored, or influenced by what they are doing. Very easy to be consumed with what they are doing or saying from morning till night. 

The psalmist was encountering people like that. For no reason he was being scorned and slandered by those in power. He could have been so disheartened by their unwarranted criticism and slander, allowing their constant negative drips, drabs, and accusations that it controlled his entire being, but instead he chose to take a higher road and let their unwarranted criticism, slander and scorn roll off his back. 

He chose to focus on what was true and profitable for his soul and mental health. He chose a much healthier option: he chose to trust in God to defend him. He chose to walk uprightly just as he had been doing and meditate on the testimonies and statues of the Lord. That’s what filled him with delight and gave his soul peace.

In his letter to the Church in Philippi, Saint Paul reminded them to meditate on things that are true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. He reminded them to focus on things that are excellent and praiseworthy (Php. 4:8). That option is not always easy, and can be challenging, but the benefit far outweighs the effort we need to give it.

Jesus was slandered by those who sat in high places and occupied positions of great influence, but He refused to become preoccupied or distracted by what He knew was not true, knowing pouring energy into what they were doing or saying wouldn’t serve any good purpose for Him. It was a waste of time to be consumed by their lies. 

When we constantly chew on the words or activities of the unkind or mull over the slanderous accusations of others—no matter how much power or authority they have, it doesn’t keep us uplifted or strengthened. But when we are focused on what’s good, profitable, inspiring, encouraging and reassuring, when we focus on the truth found in God’s word and in knowing the Lord is for us, we have peace and strength.   

The psalmist’s prayer reminds us there is divine grace in living and obeying God’s Word. There is divine grace when we choose to focus on the statues of God. The Lord has promised to care for His servants. 

Even if those in high and or influential places are speaking against or slandering us God will cover and defend us.    

God, whether we are being maliciously slandered or maligned help us to keep our focus where it’s most beneficial. Not on the wicked but on the truth found in Your Word. 

Be Encouraged to trust God when people are accusing you falsely.  

(October 23, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding. He I will run in the way of your commands when you enlarge my heart! –Psalm 119:32 

Medically and physically speaking an enlarged heart is not a good thing; even dangerous. If you have an enlarged heart, you can’t move around very well. You’re definitely not out running races or performing daily tasks with optimal output. It would take a lot of effort and energy just to accomplish small things. No one wants to have an enlarged heart and it’s a lot to take in emotionally and mentally if that’s the diagnosis you receive after a series of medical tests.   

On the other hand, spiritually speaking, having an enlarged heart is a great thing. If you have an enlarged spiritual heart, you’re ready to walk and run with the Lord. You can accomplish the Lord’s purposes and meet those spiritual goals the Holy Spirit puts in front of you. If you have an enlarged heart spiritually, you have an open heart that’s opened to God’s direction and His truth, and you are filled up with love. Your very big spiritual heart can take the honesty God brings to you about yourself and situations; in fact, you welcome it.

If you have an enlarged spiritual heart, you can be obedient to God ‘s commands. Being obedient to God’s commands is more than obeying the “The Commandments” that God had Moses write on the two tablets after delivering them from Egypt and Pharoah’s army, it involves the precepts and commands of God spread through His Word, from Genesis to Revelation. It means your great delight and joy is in Him. If you have an enlarged heart spiritually, your heart is full of God. God occupies and is threaded throughout your thoughts from morning to night in some fashion. 

The Apostles Paul and Peter often prayed for believers to grow up in the Lord and be filled up with the knowledge of Him (Eph. 3:19; 2 Peter 3:18)

There are people who have a small and narrow spiritual heart. They are closed off to God and refuse to do the things God speaks to their heart. They do not care to be obedient to God and they are not concerned about following the path the Holy Spirit is constantly leading them to be on. Their obstinance to God shows in their attitude and viewpoints.    

While it’s not likely we will pray to have an enlarged heart physically—no one wants the physical suffering that accompany having an enlarged physical heart, but we can make it a point to pray daily to have an enlarged spiritual heart that is wide open to God, filled up with God, bursting at the seams with His goodness.  

When our spiritual heart is enlarged, we are made happy, our soul is jubilant, we are forgiving, loving, compassionate, peaceful, our horizons are expanded and we can see and hear what we haven’t seen or heard before, we are growing in awareness and growing in grace and the knowledge of truth. When we have an enlarged heart, we also have an enlarged life! When God sees your heart is enlarged and lets you know that’s the best diagnosis that comes with a blessed prognosis you can receive.   

Lord, open my heart to your truth, enlarge my heart so I am obedient to you and enjoy doing your will. Enlarge my heart so the borders of my life are enlarged. Amen

Be Encouraged to pray often even daily that the Lord will give you an enlarged spiritual heart. 

(October 22, 2024)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. –2 Timothy 3:16, ESV

What would you do if there was no Bible to read or study or know God through? What would your Christians life be like if there was no such thing as a Bible? Maybe a better question is, would it make any difference? 

The Bible is our source for learning about God, for learning that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ, God’s only Son who came to earth as a baby and lived this life we live before dying on a cross to save us from a destiny of eternal death. The Bible has one author—God. It has one theme—Jesus Christ. It has one purpose: guiding us through this darkness and guiding us back home to heaven.

God helps us know the Bible’s purpose and He lets us know where it came from. Paul wrote Timothy that all Scripture is breathed out by God. That answers our question whether the Bible was written by humans or not. Some people say and believe that it’s the thoughts, opinions, and ideas of people we read in the Scriptures. The human hand may have put the words on paper, but it was the Spirit who revealed what was to be written. God authored the Bible so we can have the guidance we need for getting through this dark world where Satan and the forces of darkness move with freedom and power. 

Paul wasn’t repeating himself when he wrote that the Bible was good for reproofing and correcting. They may seem to be the same but are different. Reproof is about pointing out our mistakes or wrongdoings and is a form of criticism aimed at bringing attention to behavior or beliefs. While correcting refers to the action or process of correcting, which can involve setting something right or pointing out a mistake. 

Reproof is related to faults regarding someone’s behavior, while correction can refer to many types of errors, faults and mistakes. God will use His Word to both point out our faults and mistakes and correct them. That’s how God uses His word to train us up in righteousness for holy living. Not just any book can accomplish that. We may enjoy a good novel, get a lot from reading a well-written self-help book, but no other Book can tout it is the place where God both meets with us and transforms us.

Before we learn to love spending time with God in Bible we might look at it as more of a chore or obligation but once we learn it’s the place we meet God and God meets with us the more we love our time with God in His word.     

Thank you for the Bible God. There are a lot of well-written books I enjoy reading but none can measure up to or fulfill what You have purposed through Your word.  Amen 

Be Encouraged to set an appointment with God and read your Bible daily.  

(October 21, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24, NLT 

When do you ordinarily feel like rejoicing? Do you need to be having a good or great day before you can do what the psalmist writes here? Or can it be when you’re having one of those terrible, things-can’t-get-any-worse-days. When it’s a  difficult day—a day when everything is going wrong, you’re feeling unwell, your life feels like one storm after another, your burdens are heavier than you can bear, when you are feeling like everybody is turned against you and nobody understands you—not even God? Can you rejoice and be glad on a lousy day or a day you can’t wait to be over? 

This is one of the psalms the Jews sing at Passover. It’s also the psalm Jesus sang before going to Calvary to be crucified. Can you imagine Jesus singing as He was headed to Jerusalem; headed for Calvary to suffer and die for the sins of the world? How could He possibly be singing, “This is the day the LORD has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it” when He was headed to His own death, headed toward Jerusalem where He would suffer greatly before being nailed to a cross of wood, singing “This is the day the LORD has made I will rejoice and be glad in it” while He was spending His final days with His beloved disciples, getting in those last conversations, eating His last meal?     

When we also know that Jesus was quick to pray, “Not my will but your will be done,” (Matt. 26:39) then His singing Psalm 118 wouldn’t be out of the ordinary at all. In fact, it would be in keeping with His character and the way He lived His entire life: in the will of the Father.   

Whether we are reading what Jesus said in the Gospels, or what Paul, Peter, or others wrote in the New Testament, we can learn a lot about what it takes to rejoice in the day we’ve been given. We can train our spirit to sing and rejoice so even when we’re having a very bad day, having the worst day or season of our life, weighed down by troubles, flat on our back due to an illness we can sing because we know exactly what Paul was talking about when he said, “If God is for us who can be against us (Rom. 8:31-33). We can sing because we also know no matter what kind of day it is, we can also remember to anticipate what God is going to do for us in the future and remember His promise that He always works all things together for the good of those who love him, those who are called according to his purpose (Rom.8:28), then we can sing like the psalmist and Jesus. 

If life goes the way it so often does. Our days can be full of overwhelming burdens and sorrows. Jesus knew those kind of days also. Our days can be full of being attacked unjustly by people. Jesus knew those kind of days also. Our life can be full of encounters with the obstinate and mean-spirited—Jesus had his share of those kind of days also. But if we anticipate what God is going to do for us, if we keep in mind when God is in control, the end will always turns out the way God has designed, then we can rejoice and be glad in it. 

God, help me have that right perspective about rejoicing in the day you have made regardless of what kind of day it is.

Be Encouraged to know even though you may not understand God’s purposes now, one day you will be able to and therefore you can rejoice today no matter what. 

(October 20, 2024)

Key Promise to Pray and Treasure

LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. –Psalm 8:1-2, NIV

LORD, when I think of all You have created, all that You have put together; the things You spoke into being and at the sound of Your voice came into being; the things You touched with Your hand—like human beings—that took shape and exist to this day because of what You did, I am amazed. I can’t do anything less than praise and glorify You.

LORD, considering all You have done and in such a mysterious way, I’m wondering why You have such high regard for humans; why you care about us so deeply; even after we gave into temptation and to this day still drift and plunge into sin without much resistance or regard to consequences. 

At creation, You made humans a little lower than the angels and You crowned us with glory and honor (Ps. 8:5). We may not be perfect, but we are redeemed by Jesus and one day we will reign with Him in heaven. We may struggle with our old nature, but we are not slaves or enslaved. We are not always as strong or confident as we should be, but we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, and by His power we have strength to live as children of the Most High God; strength to live lives that please You and strength to live as those belonging to a royal priesthood and a holy nation. 

Lord, help me reign over my circumstances and feelings. Help me trust in Christ as Savior to reign in my life. Whenever I find myself a slave to a particular circumstance or emotion, help me remember, because of the sacrifice of Christ, I need no longer live as a slave in this world or to my emotions, I am not ruled by the Prince of darkness, nor misled by his wicked counsel, but I can claim the power of Your Spirit and live as a the king I am.

Be Encouraged to claim your true position of royalty and live the life Jesus redeemed you to have.     

(October 18, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. —Psalm 117:1-2, NIV

If there ever was a reason to talk to others about Jesus, Psalm 117 makes it. It may be the shortest psalm amid 150 psalms but it’s two verses are packed and weighty, commanding, and leaving no question what all earthly inhabitants should be doing: praising the LORD.

Verse 1 says “all nations are to praise Him, all peoples, no matter what their color and ethnicity should extol Him. And verse 2 says why: We are to praise Him for His great love and for the way He is faithful toward us. A faithfulness that is enduring. 

Here’s a fact: we can’t praise or extol the LORD if we don’t know Him. We can’t praise Jesus or thank Him for dying on the cross to save us from an eternity apart from God if we don’t know what we have gained through Jesus’ sacrifice and death on the cross.

We might wonder why the world is such a dark and dangerous and unbelieving place, why crime is so high, hatred so rampant, why violence is so pervasive, why people are so mean, unreasonable, and hateful. How have we done in introducing others to our good, holy, kind, loving, caring, and protective God? How many have we talked to about our forgiving, life-changer, way-maker, problem-solving, mind-regulating, healing, constant companion and Friend, Jesus Christ? People cannot praise whom and what they don’t know. 

The Scriptures teach and human nature proves it out: we will worship something. We will look for a “higher” power to align with. We will find some cause to trumpet even if that cause and power is darkness, evil, and hatred.  

True, not everyone we tell will turn to Christ or accept Him as their personal Savior. Not everyone we talk to about Jesus will find His kindness and goodness attractive. Not everyone will embrace Him as their help, comfort, and strength.  Not everyone will be happy to be saved or elated at the thought of living in heaven for all eternity, not everyone will want to give up their power to let Christ rule in their heart or become the Lord of their life, but someone might. More people than we can imagine might. 

If we want the world to be a better place its our job to make it such. Introducing the nations and all peoples to Christ is a job each of us are charged with and all of us in our own way. I’m not a preacher/pastor as my husband is. He has been called to preach and teach the Good News so others will know and be able to grow up in in their salvation, come to know the fullness of Christ, but I am a writer and life coach and it’s my task to find a way to share Jesus with others in a different way; my responsibility to creatively weave what Christ has done for us into my daily conversations. 

You may not be called to preach the Gospel, you may be a teacher in a classroom where evangelizing is forbidden, you might be an equipment tech in the hospital where you can’t go around talking to people or patients about God or Jesus openly, you may be hospice nurse who has contact with many who have other beliefs, you may be a professional truck driver having only brief encounters with others in your day or shift, you may be a graphic artist and most of your day is spent in front of a computer, you may be a student on campus, surrounded by other students too busy to hear about Jesus, you may be a party planner and people only hire you to help them have a good time. You may be a loan processor or employed at a place where proselytizing customers is against the rules, whoever you are God has charged you to share Christ and in such a way that others know and are drawn to Him.

Former monk and Church Reformer Martin Luther used to say everyone should preach the Gospel—share the Good News of Jesus and what He has done—and only, when necessary, use words. When we get to heaven, gathered at the gate to greet us along with friends and family who got there ahead of us, should be a good number of people who made it home because we told and showed them Christ and they turned to Him in their life.

LORD, no matter what else I need to accomplish today, let telling and showing others who Jesus is by the most pressing activity I am about. Amen

Be Encouraged to find your creative way of sharing Jesus with others.            

(October 17, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth. –Psalm 115:14-15, NIV

Have you figured out by now Psalm 115 is bursting with promises of blessing from our God who not only sits in heaven, rules over heaven and earth, but is actively at work in the lives of his created beings? 

The definition of the word “flourish” can mean “to grow luxuriantly: thrive. To achieve success or prosper. To be in a vigorous state or at the height of fame, excellence, or influence. To be healthy and happy. To be in a period of highest strength, influence, fame or the like.” 

We can see how God caused His Son, Jesus to flourish in life and in death. To many, Jesus was an enigma; someone who was mysterious, puzzling or difficult to understand. But to those who believed and received Jesus as God’s Son from heaven, sent to die for the sins of the world and give us eternal life and immortality, Jesus was a blessing and the answer to every problem we face.

Because God’s promise to make us flourish, everything Jesus did—and still does—was not only successful but prospered. Under the Father’s hand, Jesus thrived then, and He thrives today. Jesus achieved success and prospered spiritually and those who place their trust in Him to this day enjoy the same. Jesus was healthy and happy, and His strength did not wane. The same is true for all who follow in His ways. 

Because we belong to and follow our Lord Jesus and the LORD God’s hand is upon us, His promise to make us flourish applies to us also. Like God’s Son and our Savior Jesus, we are also an enigma to many. We cannot be figured out. 

The Apostle Paul said it best when he wrote under the Spirit’s direction, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Paul said “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the all-surpassing power we have is from God and not ourselves. We are always carrying around in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Cor. 4:7-9).        

We are a mystery to the unbelieving world and a mystery to the devil and forces of evil. We get back up when knocked down and manage to shine even when darkness invades our space. We do not give up even when the obstacles are great. We give God thanks and praise even when life looks the bleakest and hopeless. We trust in God even when doors are shut against us, and no one agrees to help us.   

Because our Father God promises to make us flourish, we will succeed. We will make bold gestures. We will grow well. We will enjoy strength, excellence and be people of influence. We will stand out now and be remembered for our goodness, love of the Lord, and excellence long after we’ve gone home to heaven. 

Any way we apply the definition of “flourish” to our life, based upon the promise of God, we can be sure we will accomplish and always have great things to look forward to.

Father God, thank you for your promise to make me flourish! Amen 

Be Encouraged to walk in confidence, strength and stand up straight knowing God’s promise to make you flourish in life is yours.   

(October 16, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless his people Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike. –Psalm 115:12-13, NIV  

Do you ever forget someone’s name? Maybe you haven’t seen them for a long while and you can’t remember their name. You know their face, but their name escapes you in that moment. In Psalm 27 David wrote, “Though my father and mother forget me, the LORD will receive me.” 

Maybe there was a distribution of some goods taking place and you were overlooked; you were forgotten. In the beginning stages, as the Christian Church was increasing in numbers, the Grecian Jews complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. It seems they were forgotten, and steps were taken to make sure the widows were always remembered (Acts 6:1).  

Forgetfulness is natural. It can come with age. It can come with having too much to remember. I was looking at products to help with our memory as we age. There are a ton of them to choose from! Most of us have fears of not remembering the important things. We are always weighing what’s natural and what may indicate we have something going on medically. 

In Psalm 115 God made a promise to never forget Israel as a nation. What a comfort to take to heart today. Today’s a good day to remember how God promises to remember and bless us as a nation—not just geographically but as a nation of believers. God promises to remember to bless the house of Aaron, the Church where God’s people are spiritually nourished, and fed. God promises to remember and bless all who fear Him—the small and great alike. God is an equal opportunity God. He is always watching out for us, and we never have to worry about being forgotten.

Feeling forgotten and being forgotten are two different things. When we feel forgotten by God, overlooked in the daily distribution of blessings, it’s good to remind ourselves of God’s unbreakable promises in His word that He will not forget us. It’s also a good time to praise God for His remembrance of us; that will shut the mouth of the accuser who is doing nothing except trying to plant a seed of doubt in our mind to take root in our heart. When we feel forgotten it’s a perfect time to draw close to God in prayer. James said “draw near to God and God will draw near to us (James 4:8). Through daily prayer, reading of God’s word and paying attention to God’s movement in our life we can see how God always remembers us and blesses us.    

With all that we can forget and how easy it is for us to be forgotten by others, God makes a promise that blesses us and should give us comfort and ease. God promises never to forget us. God will not forget us in the distribution of blessings. God will always remember to take care of us. God will not forget to cover and protect us. God will always remember to bring us home to heaven when our life on earth is complete.  

Thank You, God for your promise to always remember us and always to bless us. Amen  

Be Encouraged to remember God’s promise he will never forget you regardless of your earthly status God will always remember to bless and care for you.  

(October 15, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield. House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield. –Psalm 115:9-11, NIV

Whoever wrote Psalm 115 made a profound point concerning manmade gods and those who worship them. The contrast cannot be plainer. First, the psalmist asks the question why any nation—an unbelieving people—wonder “where our God is” (115:2). There’s no doubt our God is in heaven and has all power in his hands. There is no question that our God moves upon the earth and is active in the lives of his created beings. 

In stark contrast the gods of the unbelieving are made of silver and gold and made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Worst yet, those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them (Ps. 115:3-8). 

The unbelieving nations during the psalmist’s time would make idols out of manmade materials and locate them throughout the hills. They would paint faces on them to give the man appearance of awareness. But their only threat was in the minds of people. Their gods appeared to be real but were anything but. How unlike our living, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God idol gods are! Let’s consider the contrast:

Our God is not created. He is uncreated and eternal and therefore He is not limited by human limitations.

Our God has a mouth and speaks His promises over us. Our God can send word of comfort and encourage us.

Our God has eyes and watches over us to protect us; He can see us wherever we are. We are the apple of His eye, and He never loses sight of us.

Our God has ears to hear our prayers. Our God can hear our cries and pleas for help, He can hear us when we call to Him. He can hear our praises as they rise to the heavens.

Our God has a nose to smell the fragrance of our prayers and praises and He loves the aroma they give off.

Our God has hands to hold us and touch us and reach into our life. Our God has hands to hold back winds and rains and keep us cradled in their palm.

Our God has feet and can be everywhere present. Our God can walk the earth and walk with us daily. He is not a stick of wood, or a rock left in the same place it has been fashioned.

Our God has a throat to express His deep love and concern. God’s concern and care comes from deep within His heart. His concern is not fake. He is nonfeeling. 

And adding insult to injury, those who make idols will become as one-dimensional, unresponsive, heartless and powerless as the idols they fashion. Thank Good we have been made in the image of our God and the more we walk with Him and trust in Him the more we become like Him full of life, goodness, holy, compassionate, and eternal. 

God, what a poignant declaration and proof of the absurdity of worshiping manmade or idol gods! There is no clearer case for serving, worshiping, and appreciating You, our real, living and loving God who cares for us all our lives. Amen 

Be Encouraged to make sure your life is free of idol gods which have an appearance of being real and powerful.    

(October 14, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water. –Psalm 114:7-8, NIV

As you read Psalm 114, the psalmist is doing more than going down memory lane. He is pointing out some powerful activity of God. Reminding the children of God what the God of heaven and earth can do on their behalf. 

First, God made Judah his sanctuary, Israel became his dominion (vv1-2). Then, God caused the Jordan to part by his command (v3). He made the mountains leap like rams and the smaller hills like little lambs (v4). The psalmists reminded them that even in the presence of powerful God the earth trembles (v7). The same God who turns rocks into pools of water and hard rocks into springs of water (8). You can read about God’s power and activity on behalf of his precious children in Psalm 114:1-8.

Psalm 114 is more than a history lesson it’s a lesson on how God deals with obstacles his children face; any obstacle that threatens our wellbeing and will interfere with his personal plans or assignments for us.

First, sometimes God will overcome our obstacles. When we turn our obstacles over to God, God acts on our behalf. Remember, as the Israelites stood at the shore of the Red Sea it was a desperate and panicky time (Ex. 14). God didn’t turn his back He helped them. God used his power over the sea and all of heaven and earth to make a way for his beloved; he parted the waters so they could walk through.

Second, sometimes God removes our obstacles completely. The psalmist said even the presence of God causes the hills and the mountains to leap and run like rams and lambs (114:3-4). That’s powerful! In the presence of God whatever has set itself in our path God knows how to make it flee from his presence. No force or nothing wants to tangle with God, instead they run away.  

And sometimes God turns our obstacles into blessings. Remember when the people cried out for water and God had Moses strike the rock with his staff? God caused water to pour out of the rock, he took a hard rock and made it burst with springs of fresh, refreshing water for them to enjoy (Num. 20:10-13). What a blessing for God’s children. Even in their rebellion God blessed them with refreshment.  

What the psalmist shares is more than just interesting stories or pieces of history so old none of us were there, through these historical accounts the Israelites were reminded, and we can be encouraged today to know there is no obstacle God cannot handle and make it work to his glory and for our good. What we can remember is that when we are in the hopeless places of life God is with us has a plan to deal with our obstacles; regardless of what kind of obstacle it is.  

If you’re facing an obstacle and God hasn’t overcome it, then it’s possible he’s going to remove it, and if he has chosen not to remove it, then it’s a sure bet God’s going to turn it into a blessing!

God, I will trust you with my obstacles. I know you can help me in the hopeless places, the high places and the hard places. Amen

Be Encouraged to look at the obstacles standing in your way and consider the approach God may be taking.  

 (October 12, 2024) 

A Promise to Pray and Treasure this Week

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?...Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me; yet I will be confident—Psalm 27:1,3

God, I understand why you are calling me, I think I know, anyway. But you already know I don’t like conflict. Why can’t people just act right, Lord? Why can’t someone else take up this fight? Why doesn’t someone else speak up, because I don’t know what to say. Conflict makes my stomach sick. I feel defensive and defeated at the same time. I don’t want to do battle; but I know if I’m must I’m up for the task. I just want to express another point of view, and I want my point of view to be taken seriously and respected. Give me confidence and strength to disagree, Lord. Stand with me so I can stand steadfastly…

A Promise to Pray and Treasure this Week

Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. –Hebrews 12:1-2

I believe in you, God. I believe you are the peace that conquers my most pressing problem, the sufficiency that meets my greatest need, and the strength that is equal to my most difficult task. There’s nothing that is too much for me when I’m trusting you. Forgive me for the moments when I lose sight of these realities and lapse into worry or fear or pride but whenever I refocus on you—on who you are—I see through eyes of faith again and you heal my perspective once more. Amen 

A Promise to Pray and Treasure this Week

Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exalt in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18

Murphy’s Law sometimes seems to characterize my life, God, but I don’t want to have a defeatist attitude. You allow difficulties to come my way in order to refine my character. Sometimes I struggle but help me see setbacks as challenges and not as curses. Help me approach problems as opportunities to learn and grow and not as insurmountable walls or mountains that cannot be moved. Teach me to have that kind of tenacity of faith that makes me push through and God, let me cultivate the kind of mindset that even when things look like they can’t get any worse and adversity is raging everywhere, I can see with eyes of faith find something positive to focus on and a reason to rejoice and be glad. Amen

(October 12, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. –Proverbs 19:23, ESV

If you’ve seen the classic Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon you may remember the scene where Charlie Brown, shoulders slumped, stops by Lucy’s booth where she doles out advice for a nickel. The sign reads, “The psychiatrist is in.” As she psychoanalyzes Charlie Brown, trying to get to the bottom of his depression she lists various fears. To each one he responds no. But finally, she gets to the last one; “Do you have pantophobia? “What’s that,” Charlie Brown asks. To which Lucy responds, “The fear of everything!” “That’s it!” His reaction is so strong it sends Lucy toppling. 

What are your fears? Perhaps you’re afraid of heights. Then you have acrophobia. Or you may have a fear of closed in places which is claustrophobia. You might be afraid of large bodies of water like oceans, which is thalassophobia, or the fear of dogs (cynophobia), or bugs (entomophobia), you might even fear people which is anthropophobia. 

There’s no end to the fears we can entertain and become enslaved by. We might have an extreme fear of germs which is Mysophobia, or a fear of being alone or abandoned which is Monophobia, or a fear of being homeless which is called Hobophobia, a fear of becoming sick which is Emetophobia, or a fear of going hungry: Cibophobia. 

Christians are not exempt from having fears. We might even fear being sent to hell after living a life of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which is Stygiophobia.  

Whether our fears are about germs, bugs, water or closed in spaces none of them lead to abundance of the soul or peace of mind. King David wrote about a fear that we should not only desire to have but cultivate. And that’s the fear of the LORD. In Psalm 25 God reminds us he reserves his friendship for those who fear him. To them he makes known his covenant (25:14).     

When we research it, we can find that God has quite a bit to say about fearing him, even hundreds of passages. David wrote, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding (Ps. 111:10), and Solomon said, “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death (Prov. 14:27). 

We can entertain all kinds of fears that keep us locked indoors and up at night but there is only one fear that is a fountain of life and drives out all other fear. As the psalmist writes, there’s only one fear that drives out all other fears and “Blessed is the person who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in his commandments. Who humbly fulfills his or her Christian duty to fear God (Ecc. 12:13).  

There is a lot we can fear in this life. A lot we should respectfully be cautious about. but there is only one fear that leads to life, only one fear that is spiritually profitable and leads to blessing and that is the fear of the LORD.   

God, what a blessing to be aware of. That those who fear you have no lack! (Ps. 34:9). Let me put all other fears to rest, God and teach me to fear you alone so my soul can prosper, and my mind can be at peace. Amen

Be Encouraged to submit your fears to God, put your complete trust in him, and make fearing God your highest goal.      

.       

(October 11, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. –Matthew 7:24-25, ESV

There are some knowledgeable people in this world. People who know a lot about a lot of things and people who know a great deal about selected or specific areas. Pick a topic or subject and there are people who can talk on that topic for days and still not exhaust all their knowledge about that subject.

Even with all the smarts people can have it doesn’t automatically make them wise. The definition of knowledge is knowing facts, information, skills acquired by a person through experience or education, the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. 

Even fitting the definition perfectly does not make a person wise. As the saying goes, “When you know better you do better.” There are a lot of people who know a lot and should know better but never do better; that’s not wise at all.

According to the Word of God, wisdom lies in our obedience. We’ve all seen really smart people do some stupid things. When that happens, we might say something like, “Wow! I thought they were too smart to do something like that!” God’s Word has a lot to teach us about wisdom. Saint James wrote that we are to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, which is deceiving ourselves. He goes on to write that “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (1:22-24). 

The Word of God is given to us not just to read and study but to apply and obey. When we obey God, we begin to understand what he is doing in our life and the more we understand what he is doing the more we are at peace and can take those bold steps of faith which bring success and advancement. We might say that obedience is the key or organ of spiritual understanding, leading to success and securing what God has stored up for us. 

While the world’s wisdom is built on faulty foundation the wisdom that can be built upon and that is reliable one hundred percent of the time comes from God. The more we obey what we read in God’s word, the more we obey the instructions and precepts of the Lord, the more we obey what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us, the greater our peace and firmer our heart of faith.  

The first person in Jesus’ parable did a wise thing: he heard the words Jesus spoke and reordered his life accordingly, but the second person heard Jesus’ instruction but chose not to do anything differently in his life and his life fell apart. It could not withstand the events that came into his life, against his house. (Matt. 7:26-27). Truly wise people all have one thing in common: they have learned to put into practice what they’ve learned from the Lord. 

God never misleads us to make us think obedience comes naturally, easily, or that we won’t have challenges and doubts when we determine to obey his Word, but he does promise to give us strength, be with us every step of the way, and guarantees that our obedience to his Word and will, will be rewarded. 

Jesus, the world’s wisdom is based upon a faulty foundation, but true wisdom comes when we obey the Word of God. May my highest goal and most fervent pursuit be obeying your instruction. Amen

Be Encouraged to strive daily to obey the Word and instruction of God    

(October 10, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those who condemn him.–Psalm 109:30-31, NKJV

In Psalm 109 David’s enemies are severely persecuting the people of God. Interesting. As David was praying for his enemies they were preying on him. As bad as it was, David’s concern wasn’t for himself. It was for the people of God. At the end of his prayer David makes a profound statement. David declares, “I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yes I will praise him among the multitudes he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him. 

Their enemies had surrounded them, spewing words of hatred, fighting against them for no reason, accusing them, attacking the poor and needy, the most vulnerable and weak, but instead of retaliating David prayed for his enemies; David gave himself to prayer. David took up his position in the LORD and determined he wasn’t going to look at his enemies and walk by sight, he was going to walk by faith and praise God.

We can’t say enough about the power of praise to change the atmosphere and a negative situation. When we start to praise God with our mouth something happens it’s as if the chains holding us fall away, the blinders keeping us from seeing clearly come off, darkness becomes brilliance and our heavy heart lifts, and our soul is strengthened.

The devil cannot stay in the same place where praise is going on. First, because he it’s not it's not directed at him. He’s jealous and seethes when God gets the praise, he longs to have for himself; that’s what got him into trouble in the first place. He wants the praise to come to him and when it’s not he must flees to get a new strategy. We praise God openly with our mouth because that’s the only way to silence the voice of the enemy in our head and take back our emotions he has corralled.

David’s second resolution is to praise the LORD among the multitude (v30). Instead of focusing on what the enemy was doing David was going to throw some shade on their great God and what he could do from heaven on behalf of his beloved. 

Praising God openly where others can hear not only prompts them to focus on God also, the enemy can’t help but hear what’s going on. A collective praise in the midst of our enemies is a powerful praise that takes over and no one can stand against it.  

And David’s thirst resolution is to trust his Advocate in heaven. This is what David knew and we can know: God is at our right hand. He is at the right hand of the poor, of the needy, or the persecuted, of the weak, of the needy and Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God the Father interceding for those being persecuted, praying for our strength and victory. We are covered and defended by our mighty God. We are in the shadow of the Almighty and covered

David could have been bitter. He could have been afraid. David knew how to meditate silently on the LORD—and there are times silent meditation will strengthen us—but David also knew there are times we need to open our mouth and greatly, unashamedly, vehemently praise the LORD because that’s what will send the enemy fleeing and clinch our victory.        

Our God is an awesome God he reigns from heaven above with wisdom power and love our God is an awesome God! Amen

Be Encouraged to open your mouth and praise God greatly when the enemy is persecuting and attacking you on every side.  

(October 9, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem; you will rule over your enemies. –Psalm 110:1-2, NLT

Jeus’ assignment had taken him 33 years to complete. He left home as an infant, clothed in human flesh, now he returned a fully grown man, having experienced earthly life firsthand. The Father was proud of His only Son. He had kept the faith the Father was with him every step of his journey; never left his side for one minute; making sure he had every resource of heaven to accomplish what he was sent to do on earth and for all mankind, and his faith and perfect obedience had resulted in victory for every believer, majesty for himself, and bringing glory to the Father.

In the Gospels we often read a Fathers touching and encouraging messages to His Son. God the Father did not hesitate to give His Son praise and let him know he was pleased with him. At Jesus’ baptism the Father proudly said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). And now that the Son had returned home the Father assures him every promise he had made would be honored. Jesus was going to sit at the Father’s right hand for all eternity. He was King and Priest (Heb. 4:14-16). The heavenly Father was going to make sure his Son’s enemies paid for what they had done, and Jesus’ enemies would become his footstool.

The conversations between Father and Son aren’t just endearing it’s assuring. Every promise God the Father made to his only Son has been made to us. Saint Paul reminds us, because we belong to the Father and have become part of his family through Holy Baptism, because we have believed in the Son, baptized in his name, and now serve Him faithfully, proclaim Him as our personal Savior and Lord, we have become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). Our sufferings will not be for nothing, but the Father promises they will result in sharing the Sons glory. 

That’s a big deal: Our sufferings won’t go unrewarded. Whatever suffering we endure on earth, and they can mount up and at times seem unending. It’s a big deal to know God is taking note. All who have targeted us because we belong to God the Father and Son will pay a hefty price for what they do to make things hard for us, to discredit and make war against us; all mistreatment of us will be paid for. It’s a big deal that we don’t have to spend our time seeking or planning revenge or wasting time pursuing our enemies but can move on with our life and enjoy the benefits of belonging to the Father and the Son. It’s a big deal our obedience to the Father and dedication to the Son will reap in bringing glory and honor to them and a place of honor and reward for us.          

Jesus isn’t just sitting beside the Father he is at work. He served us on earth, preaching, teaching, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and now he serves us from heaven, interceding for us, using his power and welding his powerful influence on our behalf. Jesus received the Father’s admiration when he returned to heaven after completing his earthly journey and now he wants us to be on the receiving end of the Father’s praise. Hearing the Father gush over us when we return home, “Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!” (Matt. 25:23)   

Jesus you paved the way and set the example. Because the Father promised to repay your enemies you went about the business s of winning salvation for all people and we can follow in your footsteps. Thank you for clearing the path to heaven. Amen

Be Encouraged to become obedient to the Father and dedicate your life to the Son knowing God will take care of your enemies and repay your suffering.   

(October 8, 2024)

     Key Promise to Know and Treasure

There the hand of the LORD was on him.—Ezekiel 1:3, NIV

God’s prophet Ezekiel was thirty years old when he experienced his first visions from God. Ezekiel would never forget what turned out to be his inaugural vision. He was standing by the Kebar River with the rest of the exiles and the heavens were opened and Ezekiel saw something no one else was privileged to see. 

In the vision Ezekiel saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands (Ezekiel 1:4-8). You can keep reading Ezekiel’s heavenly vision in Ezekiel chapter 1.

What an awesome vision. While others were looking at the Kebar River stretched out before them Ezekiel’s eyes were lifted up to see the great vision above him. 

There is a prayer I pray regularly for others in my life based upon Ezekiel 1:1. It goes like this, “O God let the heavens be opened over (name) life and let (him/her) see visions and may (name) plan the activities of his/her day and conduct his/her life in accordance with those visions you have shown him/her. Amen.” 

God gave Ezekiel a vision so he could walk in concert with what God was doing and going to do. Though the exiles were seeing one thing Ezekiel was able to see this great God-thing going on above and all around them. Ezekiel was like Isaiah the year that King Uzziah had died, and Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up and the train of his robe filling the temple (Isa. 6).  

Sometimes the visions God gives concern the activities of heaven and earth and at times they concern our individual life and future. Is there a vision from heaven God has opened to you? What vision have you seen so clearly and plainly that it is as real as touching it? Are you holding onto that vision? Have you written it in your journal so you can revisit it; return to it when times get hard, and everything is dark all around you? What vision has God shown you that in that moment made your heart skip a beat and put excitement in your soul?      

When God gives you a vision concerning your life and future or concerning any circumstances he is showing you what Ezekiel learned that day as he stood by the Kebar River, “There the hand of the LORD is on you” (Eze. 1:3). Knowing ‘the hand of the LORD is on you can remind you, “If God is for you who can be against you?” (Rom. 8:31)

The visions God gave Ezekiel, Isaiah and others weren’t for their entertainment. They meant something. God chose them to see the workings of God and the glory of heaven that went beyond the human scope and will and God knows why he has shown you what he has. If God reveals a vision, he has enlisted you as a partner to bring his glory to earth and make his salvation known. 

What a great privilege to receive even a glimpse of the future. How blessed we are to work in concert with God as he brings it about.

God, you are great and reveal great and heavenly things to mere humans. We are blessed to be entrusted to see heavenly things during our earthly journeys.   

Be Encouraged to know

Whenever God reveals visions to mere humans he has a purpose in mind. Whether the vision is about the earth or your life in particular talk to God about it and ask him if there is anything he wants done regarding what he has shown.  

(October 7, 2024)

Key Promise to Know and Treasure

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.—Romans 3:23-24, NLT

Have you ever read or heard said, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future?” It’s unfortunate how quickly we’d like to forget and dismiss Jesus rescued us from something dark and seedy. Jesus got to us just in time to save us before we drowned in the rushing and rising waters of our sin life. In that case we should gladly own the truth that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

The Christian life has this baffling paradox at its heart: we are simultaneously sinners and saints. We are both able to sin and able not to sin. As saints we’ve experienced the power of new birth through the Spirit, we’ve tasted the firstfruits of the Spirit (Rom. 8:23). Yet, despite these miraculous realities, we keep on sinning. Saint Paul writes an entire chapter on the sin we do even though we don’t want to do it (Rom. 7:15-20). 

The example St. Paul left us is spectacular. His transparency is commendable. The sinner turned saint by a very dramatic touch of the Savior never tried to pretend he came to the Lord willingly or pristine. He didn’t try to hide that he was the “chief of sinners” (I Timothy 1:15) but took every opportunity to weave his past into his present life and witness. That’s one of the things that made him such a powerful servant for the Lord.

Paul challenges us to do something. Paul challenges us to own both the good and the bad within; the saint and the sinner, in order to reach our full potential. Embracing the light and the dark as our key to a rich, full life in Christ. 

If God loves us as we are why can’t we accept who we are without the need to pretend, we are anything more than flawed humans? We may be spirit, but we are spirit having and an earthly experience. Spirit yet still struggling because we have not fully transitioned to our heavenly or immortal body. When Jesus died to save us—he didn’t die for the cleaned-up version of us but those who still struggle at their deepest levels. 

One of the reasons we can love Psalm 103:14-15 is because God calls us as we are: dust. Dust is different from clay. Dust has no substance. No moisture to hold it together. Dust is not moldable. In fact, a strong wind will blow it away. It’s only when dust becomes clay that you can do something with it. Clay has substance. Clay has moisture that makes it easy to work with. Before God breathed life into Adam, Adam was nothing but dust. It was the breath of God that added what Adam needed so God could mold him the way he desired.

If we want to experience God doing great things in our lives and through us, we must accept we are nothing but dust. We must admit to God, to ourselves and to others we are nothing but light and dark, good and bad, strong and trembling, well-intentioned and sneakily motivated. When we can do that, we are ready for God to breath his moist, warm breath into us. That’s when we are ready to be molded and useful for God’s purposes to his glory.

God, thank you for seeing all of me and accepting all of me as I am. Breath your Spirit breath into me so my dust can become moldable clay in your hands. Amen

Be Encouraged to admit to God, to yourself and to others you are both good and bad, light and dark, holy and hellish, sinner and saint.                     

(October 6, 2024)

God Turns our Pain into Something Positive

Key Promise to Pray and Treasure

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, NIV

Adoration and Praise

We praise you O Christ for your grace is sufficient for us, your power is made perfect our weakness. We praise you, knowing we were bought with a price, and we will glorify you with our whole self. We bless you because through our suffering you will be glorified; your plan is always bigger and greater than what we can ask, think, or imagine. We adore you and give you thanks with our whole heart and we will glorify your name forever.  

Confession

God, we all experience pain and suffering. We all experience pain in life whether emotional or physical. No pain is exactly alike, and we must all walk the journeys you have laid out for us. I confess I don’t always trust you when I’m going through something painful. Sometimes when I’m suffering or in pain, I forget you are able to use my pain to accomplish great things in my life and for my future. Forgive me for being narrow-minded and forgetful of your promises from Genesis to Revelation. Forgive me for forgetting how you delivered me from painful times and suffering in the past.    

Thanksgiving 

God, in times of pain it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and fearful. Thank you for your promise to come alongside us when we are in pain. Thank you for using your powerful promises to comfort to reassure us. They comfort us and help us endure and persevere through our painful times. Thank you for your friendship and loyalty and for never leaving our side. Thank you for strengthening us so we can make it to the other side of pain and suffering. Thank you for erasing our pain once you have delivered us, and helping us build new lives, helping us heal and move beyond our past.       

Asking

God, how often we have turned to you through the years; what a faithful friend you are! I could never hope to find a more kind or steadfast companion in this life. I pray, give me a heart that trusts in you and eyes that can see beyond my present circumstances. You promise there is purpose in my painful experiences, help me stand steadfast while you work everything out. I pray to have patience, strength of soul, a vision for my future, and peace of mind knowing even pain and suffering are part of your plans for me and I am not exempt. I pray that I my faith will not waver when I am tested by pain and suffering, but instead may I grow strong in faith and bring you glory and honor.  

Declarations 

God, you are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit ((Ps. 34:18). You know the plans you have for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11), I believe in what you have declared over my life, Lord. And I trust in your word. I know when my painful experience and suffering have ended you will “wipe every tear from my eyes and my doomsday thoughts, my mourning and crying and pain will disappear for the old things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4) and my life will be made new. Lord, I hope in you and will not be disappointed. Amen 

Be Encouraged to remember pain and suffering are part of our journeys but so is deliverance, redemption, refreshment and newness.  

(October 5, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Then he changed wasteland into fresh pools of water, arid earth into springs of water, brought in the hungry and settled them there; they moved in—what a great place to live! They sowed the fields, they planted vineyards, they reaped a bountiful harvest. He blessed them and they prospered greatly; their herds of cattle never decreased. But abuse and evil and trouble declined as he heaped scorn on princes and sent them away. He gave the poor a safe place to live, treated their clans like well-cared-for-sheep. –Psalm 35-41, The Message

Here’s what often happens: everything is going reasonably well. Someone asks how we are doing. Our natural and usual response is we are blessed. No complaints. In fact, we recognize we are better than most; better than we deserve to be! But God is watching and listening. God says, wait a minute. Are you enjoying the gifts and forgetting the Giver? Are you looking at My hand and forgetting My Heart? Are you enjoying My wealth and neglecting My will?

We have turned to idolatry but don’t recognize that we have. We have been living on and accepting substitutes and don’t know we have. Idolatry is not blatant and seldom turned to consciously. The absence of great troubles, reasonable health, rivers and springs and fruitful land have become our god instead of the true and only God. We more often slide into idolatry instead of boldly choose or step into it. 

It is dangerous for God’s children to depend on comfortable circumstances. When God sees that is the case, he will change our circumstances or allow them to be changed so that we are forced to turn fully to him (again). It seems cruel for God to make the rich poor or the well-fed to be hungry, the healthy to become sick, but God has our eternity in mind. 

Job was a righteous and upright man, even God said so, but when Satan became bored and looking for someone new to mess with God offered his servant Job. Job had riches, he wanted for nothing. He was comfortable. He had been blessed with children and livestock and land and life was good. But God allowed Satan to strip everything away from Job, down to his health and in the end, Job was childless, propertyless, health-less, and wifeless. Nothing except a righteous group of friends who gave bad advice and poor counsel. Over forty chapters God listened to these men philosophy before he spoke and set them straight.

The earth is God’s to do what he wants, and we are his, created by his hand to worship him alone. God blesses us with comforts, not that we should worship the gifts instead of the Giver. God blesses us and makes our life-orchards prosper and plentiful, not so we can depend upon our circumstances and ignore the heart of our God but because he loves to bless us and see us do well. 

Just as God restored the fortunes of Job in the end (Job 42), Psalm 107:33-41 reminds us God can turn our circumstances the way that is profitable for our eternity. God’s warning that he is a jealous God and will have no other gods before him calls us to examine our hearts constantly, making sure we are not worshiping anything or anyone other than him. 

As the psalmist ends his great prayer, good people see this need and are glad; bad people are speechless, stopped in their tracks. “If we are really wise, we will think this over—it’s time we appreciated God’s deep love. (vss. 42-43) and love being his well-cared-for-sheep.   

God you are better to us than we deserve. How easy it is to turn to idolatry and not recognize it. Keep our hearts humble and pure so we never put anything before you. Thank you for the blessings and the good times we enjoy. Thank you also for the lack and trials that bring us to our senses and seeking you fully once more. Amen 

Be Encouraged today to examine your heart and make sure you have no idols in your life or heart.               

(October 4, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. –Psalm 107:28-29, ESV

Psalm 107:23-32 describes a fierce storm at sea. The traders had gone to sea doing business on the large body of water, there they witnessed the greatness of the Lord. 

I don’t tend to be afraid in storms. But then, I’m safely surrounded by four walls and a roof over my head. I don’t think I’d be as comfortable or feel safe if I were at sea and a severe storm arose. To look out and see nothing but walls of water or powerful waves coming at me, no land in sight, no matter the size of the ship I was on it would not feel big or strong enough. 

The psalmist said this next group of people calling on the Lord in their distress were besieged by a storm at sea. In fact, it was God who caused their storm to arise.

All kinds of storms come into our lives. Sometimes people cause our storms:  remember in Acts 27 Paul was in a storm because the people in charge of the ship wouldn’t listen to the Word of God. Sometimes God causes the storm to test and increase us: Jesus once allowed his disciples to row directly into a storm to teach them an important lesson on faith. And sometimes we cause our storms by disobedience and being strong-willed: like when Jonah ran away from God’s assignment to go to the Ninevites and God stirred a storm which led to Jonah being swallowed by the fish. Jonah’s willful disobedience set off a chain reaction and the storm he was in was his own doing.

Regardless of how our storm came about God has one outcome in mind: that we will turn to him, recognizing he is the only one who can command the storm and cause it to cease. 

When we’re in a storm it’s good to assess why the storm has come. There is always something to learn from our storms no matter how they came about.  However the storm has come about, one thing we can know and remember is that they can be weathered, and they won’t last forever. God is a merciful God, he always hers our cries of distress and always answers us from heaven. God still rescues us from storms whether others have caused them, He has stirred them, or we have caused them to come.

Jesus, thank you for this word of encouragement tucked in Psalm 107. Regardless of how my storm has come I know, based upon your word and promise that you will hear my cries of distress, and you will cause the storm to cease at your command. Amen 

Be Encouraged if you are in a storm today to ask God for the strength and courage to weather it and for the wisdom to understand it. Don’t wase your storm.      

(October 3, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities…Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. –Psalm 107:17,19-20, NIV

Some people don’t mind being lied to if the truth is going to be something they won’t like hearing. Not me. Personally, I’d rather hear the truth even if its unpleasant. I’m not going to ask you “does this dress make me look fat” if I don’t want to know the truth. 

Can you believe there was a time in medicine when your doctor didn’t have to tell you the truth about your condition? A time when they and your family member could keep the truth and details about your disease from you. As they felt it was for your own good of course; better for you not to know you only had a few months or weeks left to live than to be told the truth.

Yesterday we talked about the medicine of God’s word that is good for us. Today let’s consider the one who administers that good medicine: Jesus Christ. Jesus will not lie to us. He will not spare the truth about our sickness. He knows withholding the truth also means eternal death.

The false prophets of Jeremiah’s day were guilty of applying salves when they should have been performing major surgery (Jer. 8:11, 22). That wasn’t good soul medicine. Making people think they had a little boo-boo instead of deadly tumor wasn’t good medicine; it wasn’t credible nor ethical. Wouldn’t you rather know you were dying so you could have the opportunity to receive the treatment that would save you? 

The Apostle Paul wrote his spiritual son Timothy that a time would come when people would not put up with sound doctrine, “Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:4). Today we see the outcome of what happens when people resist hearing the truth. Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes, he would lead us into all truth (John 16:13).

Jesus came to call sinners to repent and only he can save them. Only Jesus can cleanse every wound and heal every disease. Jesus will not “pretty” our sin up. He won’t pretend we’re not as bad off as it seems. One of Jesus’ practices of healing the soul before healing the body irritated the religious leads of his time. They questioned under whose authority he was able to forgive sin? Jesus is the only one who has the authority and ability to heal the sin-sick soul. He is the only one who became sin for us and died to set us free.  

We can rejoice that Jesus will not keep the truth from us. That, as hard as it is to hear we are sinners in need of God's grace and mercy, it will save us in the long run. As difficult as it is to face the truth that we sin in thought, word and deed (I John 1:8-9). Knowing the truth, we are terminal and not healthy as a horse is to our benefit. The Great Physician will not allow us to go on thinking we’re good, when we’re not. He knows there’s no benefit to go on thinking we can save ourselves or that a band-aid will suffice to cover a gaping wound.  

The Great Physician administers the good medicine we need to heal our deep-seated sickness and save us from death. He sends out his word and heals us, rescues us from the grave. Hallelujah! 

Jesus, thank you for not withholding the truth. Thank you for being our Great Physician and sending out your word that saves us. Amen

Be Encouraged to cry out to Jesus in your trouble and let him save you from your distress.               

(October 2, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities…Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. –Psalm 107:17,19-20, NIV

Moving on to the next portion of Psalm 107. In verses 17-22 the psalmist writes about how fools—because of their rebellious ways and iniquities—suffered affliction. It seems they loathed all food and almost died (vs.18,19). Then they cried out to God in their distress and God sent out his word and healed them, rescuing them from the grave.

The psalmist likens sin to a disease. Think of how disease enters the body. It comes in secretly and can be there for quite some time before we are aware something is going on. We look healthy enough on the outside. But on the inside the disease is wreaking havoc in our body, perhaps attacking our organs or one of our systems. Growing and taking over. 

We may start to feel unwell in subtle ways: first our energy may be zapped, we may have a lack of appetite, not wanting any food. We may grow physically weak or fatigued, tire easily. Eventually making us feel badly enough that we recognize something’s just night right and we need to get to the doctor and see what’s going on. How often it’s discovered what’s inside is cancer or something else serious and unless treated aggressively, it will kill us.

So it is with sin. Unless we get to the Dr. that specializes in sin we will die. The word of God is the treatment that will cure us. Think of all the promises the Scriptures hold. When we read the word of God we discover:

The word of God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Ps. 147:3).

The word of God heals the downcast (Psalm 42:5)

The word of God heals the faithless (Mark 5:34)

The word of God cures the doubting and languishing (Ps. 6:2)

The word of God gives rest to the weary and lifts the heavy weight of the burdened (Matt. 11:28-30) 

Solomon said gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and giving health to the body (Prov. 16:24). The word of God can heal our fears, anxiety, timidity, hopelessness, guilt and shame. It is the good medicine we need but we must reach out by faith, seek Dr. Jesus through the Word and admit we need curing and help.

In these days Big Pharma sets the prices of medicine that can heal us so high; puts it out of our reach only the very wealthy can afford it. It can cure us but the common person—the one working for $15, $17, or even $20 an hour cannot afford to get it. But thanks be to God the Word of God is free and available to all who want it. It can cure every disease that has ever been, every malady of the soul.

We don’t have to be like the fool, refusing the food that will save us and get near death before we cry out to God for help. We can today, admit we have a deadly disease eating us up on the inside; suffering from a disease that has only one cure. And just like we wouldn’t delay seeking help or taking treatment for a deadly disease ravaging our body, we can read the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit to apply its truth to our heart.  

Jesus, you are the living word that heals our sin sick soul. May I never be a fool, refusing the only medicine that will cure me spiritually.

Be Encouraged to reach out to Dr. Jesus and tell him you need help and open the word of God and ask the Holy Spirit to heal your soul's affliction through the word of God.        

(October 1, 2024)

 Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. –Psalm 107:13-14, NIV

During an earlier chapter of life, I taught preschoolers. The “short people,” as I came to call them taught me many lessons in human behavior. One lesson is that we all have a preschooler living within us. 

Preschoolers are unashamedly me-focused, intent on getting their own way and rebellious when they don’t think they will. Even when we’re older and taller we never lose that nature completely. We only become more sophisticated and cleverer in the ways we try to manipulate things to work out the way we want them to. 

Psalm 107:10-16 teaches us something important to know about God and that is sometimes God will let us have our own way so we can see our own way isn’t what’s best. God knows our own way is dangerous and destructive, but he’ll let us tread that path because he knows in the end, we’ll realize know we don’t want our own way after all—we only want whatever God wants for us. 

In another lengthy psalm the psalmist writes, “Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word” (Ps. 119:67). God knows there’s nothing like suffering to turn us around. Allowing us to suffer for our rebellion can do more to set us on a good path than a thousand of God’s words of counsel. 

In Psalm 107 the rebellious were subjected to bitter labor, some sat in utter darkness suffering in iron chains, stumbling around but there was no one to help them (vs10-12). Just like back then, the rebellious discover perhaps the consequences of rebelling against God’s word are more than they care to bear. It’s as though God says to those who rebel against him, “Do you really want to go in that direction? All right, but I won’t lighten or alter the consequences either.”

For a time, we may feel we can handle the consequences, for a while the consequences feel worth getting our way, but like heavy tariffs placed on countries, when the consequences begin to weigh on us with all their fullness, we know it’s too much to bear and once more we cry out to God. We cry to be rescued; to be welcomed back to God’s embrace; to be back at home in the safety of God’s arms. And our loving, merciful, faithful Father delivers us. We cry out to God in our trouble, and he saves us from our distress; brings us out of darkness and the shadow of death, breaks our chains in pieces, and gives us light, life and liberty. 

God knows the day will come when we are like the psalmist in Psalm 119, once we have been afflicted and suffered (enough) we willingly and gladly obey the Lord’s commands. 

The time will come we will no longer see them as an enemy, but our friend, protecting us and providing security and peace. No more kicking and screaming, holding our breath or pouting. Our preschooler nature has finally grown up and left us for good!

God, thank you for hearing my cries of distress and rescuing me, but more than anything I pray to love your commands without needing to take the path of suffering before I do. Amen

Be Encouraged to make loving Gods commands a regular prayer                   

(September 30, 2024)

  Key Promise to Know and Treasure

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. –Psalm 107:1, NIV

Have you spent some time reading Psalm 107 lately? It’s an inspiring prayer that begins the fifth and final Book of God’s Prayer Book compiled of 150 prayers, psalms and songs of worship. The psalmist begins by reminding us to give thanks to God for his goodness based upon his eternal love, and then turns to reminding the “redeemed” to tell their story of how God has worked mightily in their lives. One such group of “redeemed” is the wanderer. Those who had wandered in the desert wastelands, without a city of their own to settle in, hungry thirsting, while their lives ebbed away every day. 

The psalmist writes “then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. The LORD led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle (107:4-8). That would be a lot like the homeless going from bench to bench, living in doorways or tucked away in underpasses out of plain sight, hungry and thirsty so much of the time, being led to a home where they could put down roots, have running water, the security of four walls, a place to call their own and reorganize their life in a satisfying way. O Happy Day!

We’ve all been a wanderer at one time. We may not have been physically homeless or experienced living in the desert where there was no food or water, but we’ve all been a wanderer in some way. 

Spiritually speaking we have all been thirsting, hungry, wondering where we would go next or where we could receive the kind of nourishment necessary to remind us, we matter, that we have value, that we are loveable, that there is a future and a hope for us; a reason to hold on and keep going. 

Maybe for you it was that moment someone told or reminded you of the awesome sacrifice Jesus Christ made on your behalf and because he came from heaven, walked this walk, died in your place, you now have a loving family, you are no longer alone but have someone to help you in your moments of distress. No longer lonely, no longer thirsty, no longer wandering aimlessly, no longer without roots or security, you have a home.

What a great feeling! What a great testimony to share with someone who’s still wandering looking for that home and city where they can (finally) settle and start a new life, firmly grounded and established. A home to prosper and be fruitful.

Thank you for making sure I could have a home Jesus. I look forward to spending my eternity with you and the Father!

Be Encouraged to let Christ be your heart’s home