“…If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough.” Matthew 17:20 (NIRV)
“And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:20 (NASB)
We are such a blessed generation and a blessed people group in our country that we have such unending access to God’s Word. Not every country has this abundance of Bibles (or Bible apps!) and not always were they found at every bookstore and on every bookshelf.
We’ve been studying Moses in my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) class and when I think back to that time I try to vision myself there. Not only void of the Holy Spirit but with no Bible at hand. In fact, they only came together once every 7 years to publicly read the words of the law…can you imagine only hearing Scripture every 7 years?? Oh how wayward I think I would be without the anchor of His Word during life. This was why they wrote it on their foreheads and bound it to their bodies…so they wouldn’t forget; this was why Moses stressed over and over teaching the Law to their children and why they all practiced memorizing it- to carry it from generation to generation.
When was the last time you memorized a Bible verse as an adult? It’s been a while for me but something I want to start doing again on a regular basis; after all, memorizing scripture isn’t just for our children, we never stop needing the words of God and what better place for them to be than written on our hearts. We do this by reading them, memorizing and meditating on them, letting them sink deep into our souls so they are there when we need them for ourselves or even to help others. (some ideas below!)
“The Word of God is alive and active…” Hebrews 4:12
Not only is the Bible one of a kind in it’s physical appearance (don’t you just love the sound and feel of the pages?), it’s the only book whose Author is always present. No other book has the power to change lives, to save, to offer grace, hope and encouragement like the Bible does. No other book speaks from God’s heart or of His love like the Bible does. It’s one big book made up of a treasure of books; His Words with the purpose of showing us His love, mercy and the desires and many promises He has for us. It breathes of our need for a Savior and tells of the fulfillment of this Savior’s many wonders while He came to save the lost and desperate.
The Book tells of the faith of those who knew Him and walked with Him…and of those who didn’t. A collection of biographies of the lives of imperfect individuals (and One extremely perfect individual!), the Bible reveals promises of blessings in obedience and consequences of sin, with every word pointing towards Jesus Christ. Weaved throughout the thin pages is a thickness that can’t be described, only experienced for oneself.
It brings life, it changes lives, it brings conviction, salvation, sanctification…it brings heaven to our souls, it brings HOPE. It directs our steps and shows us the way. No matter where you are in life, it’s never too early or too late to open and learn of the greatest Book filled with the most amazing love story that leads the Way, shares the Truth and gives us Life.
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
Ideas for Scripture memorization~
I’m praying the Words of God become more alive than ever to each of us and that we never cease growing in our faith! Blessing friends! 🙂
“And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb” (Luke 24:2)
The tomb where Jesus’ body lay took on a different appearance that third day after His crucifixion. No longer was there a huge stone sealing it up hiding the beaten, bruised and bloody body of the King, the stone had been rolled away and Jesus was ALIVE. This is the day we celebrate; this is the day we call Easter.
Mary Magdalene and Mary, bringing spices and oils to anoint Jesus’ body, found the stone rolled away and discovered the empty tomb. I’m intrigued by the fact that the stone was rolled to the side and no longer sealing the entrance when the women arrived. If you think about it, God could have left that one action out and the women would have had the guards move the stone…but the Lord, taking certain measures, took it upon Himself to roll the stone out of the way.
This makes me think of all the stones that have stood in the way of my relationship with Jesus…and it has not been me that rolled them away, but Jesus.
About 5 years ago I distinctly remember a conversation with a good friend from college; she had just given her life to the Lord and was a completely different person. I was so proud of her and a little jealous, I wanted and needed to be back with Jesus, living for Him and not myself. I had strayed but my goodness the thought of coming back to Him was daunting…I remember crying and telling her how many things I would have to change in my life before I could commit myself to Him again. I just didn’t think it was possible, I was too far from Him, too many stones in the way…
Little did I know that exactly 4 months later I would return to the Lord. Completely, wholeheartedly, back in His arms. All those things that I thought I had to be the one to change, were His to change. And change them He did. Radically. Amazingly. An earthquake happened in my soul, I was ALIVE again and all these huge stones were rolled away. Not by me but by my God. Oh friends I am emotional just reliving this!
“‘Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.” (Zechariah 4:6)
Are there stones in your life that need to be rolled away? Does the task seem too much to bear? It’s not your job to do it, you possibly can’t; only by the power of our Risen King can the stones that hold us back from Him be removed. All you have to do is say Yes, Lord, I’m in. I give. I’m done trying to do this without You it is TOO HARD. Then seek Him and you will find Him, draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Pray to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and you will know a love and freedom like never before. Just wait and watch as He transforms you from the inside out…I want to hear about it too, OK!!!?
I love you all so much. Happy Easter friends.
“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46
According to Luke, these are the last words spoken by Jesus right before He breathed His last breath on the cross. What beautiful words to leave us with and what a humble picture of Jesus’ life on earth; He lived the ultimate example of a life surrendered to God’s will and not His own. This, of course, was His purpose…but isn’t it ours too?
Surrender: to cease resistance and submit to authority, give up, hand over, abandon oneself entirely, give in to, yield, to agree to stop fighting, hiding, resisting; to give the control to someone else; to allow something to influence or control you
When we surrender to God, we ultimately are saying, “Yes, Lord, I TRUST YOU.” The true Christian life is lived most full when it is lived surrendered, when it’s lived trusting in Him and His plan for our lives. This doesn’t mean it will be easy, in fact, it pretty much means it will be hard. Through circumstances He will continually be asking us if we trust Him. Do you trust Me? Do you love Me? Do you know that I LOVE YOU and can help you live this life free and full of grace, forgiveness and wholeness?
God’s intent for us is to not only to love Him but to trust Him. There’s the kicker- that trust word. Sometimes we have an easier time trusting our own ways or friend’s ways than the ways of the Bottom Line (HIS way), and that requires surrendering our spirit into His hands.
So picture yourself, your spirit, your body, your will, your soul and mind in His hands…it’s comforting isn’t it? There’s not a safer place to live than in His hands. Fully committed, surrendered, yielding to the work He has for us here, the plan He has laid out specifically just for each one of us. What an honor to be chosen by God to fulfill His purposes and further His kingdom. But how often we miss it…let’s not miss it any longer. Let’s commit our spirits, our wills, and our lives to the ONE who died for us. He will guide and direct us. He will lead and comfort us. He will if we will let Him.
The mark of our salvation for those who trust and believe was His blood shed on a wooden cross, the mark of our sanctification and growth is the continual release of entrusting our spirit to Him. Surrendering, yielding, trusting and believing. Daily, hourly, momently.
Oh I feel the struggle, though, do you? Yielding to His will isn’t always the easiest road. Our flesh often tells us differently, and the norms of society certainly goes against how the Bible instructs us to live. BUT, our surrender to Him is for our benefit and His glory; our gain, not our loss. He is in it for US! Let’s trust Him today and commit our spirits into His mighty, faithful and loving hands. They are big enough for all of us, thank you, Jesus!
Every day, surrender. His will, not ours.
Every day, trust, for He is oh so faithful to provide everything we need if we will only commit ourselves to Him.
Father, into your hands, we commit our spirits. Amen.
Now go. Go in faith and live like never before.
“The Lord delights in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love.” Psalm 147:11
I woke up one day with this verse on my heart so I dug into it. Let’s break it apart to digest how beautiful it truly is.
“The Lord delights…”
This means He takes great pleasure in, revels in, adores, rejoices, desires and one definition even says “becomes great friends”. I love that! Oh to be not just a friend but a great friend of the most High! Sign me up for that!
“…those who fear Him…”
The way the word fear is used here, and many other times throughout the Bible, is in reference to “awe, awesome, a proper attitude of awe or respect with/towards God, total allegiance with God, to be a faithful follower and worshiper.” Trust is also a huge aspect in this healthy fear. The Bible talks of how this fear of the Lord is a foundation of wisdom and knowledge; it leads to life, security, protection and is a life-giving fountain (um yes please!).
While the word fear in this verse isn’t defined by being afraid, it does make me think of when we are afraid and what happens to us. We normally tremble or shake, right? Often (and so frequently in the movies!) our mouths are open and we scream, right? Sometimes we cower down on our knees or faces, sometimes we throw our hands up in surrender. Ok, those might be a little dramatic but I do find the similarities so interesting. This fear we are to have of the Lord may occasionally produce some of the same bodily symptoms of being afraid (trembling, mouth open, hands up surrendered), it’s a completely different fear and so amazing.
Think about the last time you were in awe of something…maybe it was an encounter with Jesus, maybe it was a sunset, maybe you have just looked into the eyes of a baby you have been praying for…this awe, this beautiful sense of astounding amazement is how the Lord wants us to view Him. He is enthralled with us, His creation…are we truly in awe of Him? He desires our honor, worship, friendship and trust so we can be used for His glory…do we truly fear Him?
“…hope in His unfailing love.”
This just makes me think of Jesus and points me right back to good old John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” The fact that Jesus is our hope and the most significant source of God’s love for us puts me in awe. In awe of God for His soveringty, in awe of Jesus for who He was and His sacrifice for our salvation. HE is our hope, our belief, our promise, our Savior…God’s love for us is not only on the cross but all over this earth and the people in it. It’s in the tomb where Jesus was resurrected, in the pages of Scripture, in our souls, and abundantly in Heaven where we will see Him face to face. Talk about awe (mouth open for sure here, right!?)!
“The Lord delights in those who fear Him, those who hope in His unfailing love.”
Today, let’s pray that we see God’s awesomeness in everything; it’s there you know, in everything. I pray that we sense Him drawing us in, turning our faces towards His. Look up, in awe of the one true God who loves you more than you can imagine. Thank Him, trust Him, seek Him, love Him, delight in Him as HE delights in you. 🙂
The sun comes up it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
How often I wake up singing but by the end of the day I am doing the total opposite…ever been there? I get tired, so much can happen in the course of one day, children disobey and there is always so much to be done. In fact, I find the evening one of the hardest times to be “singing”, but it’s often when I need it the most.
“Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!” Psalm 96:1
This “singing” that we do is simple, but easy to forget when times are difficult. It’s praising Him. It might even be praying to Him, serving Him (or others), worshipping Him, abiding in Him, etc…
My Nana used to say how “it’s hard to think bad thoughts when you are singing a happy tune.” And it’s true! Sometimes if I am feeling a lull or sense a bad attitude creeping in during the day, I will turn on some Christian music…it takes the blues away, turns my heart to God and is an awesome way to worship and praise Him (why can’t I remember to do this at night too?!).
Whatever may pass…whatever lies before me…
There is always something to praise Him for – may we never cease – even and especially in the hard times.
Let me be singing (praising, praying, serving, worshiping, loving, add your own word, etc…) when the evening comes.
Make the choice to sing today. A life of faith is a marathon and not a sprint; we run it with endurance…singing one day at a time (or hour, or moment). So let’s run our race for today with endurance, from sun up to sun down run at a pace worthy of our calling, keeping our eyes on Jesus and we WILL be singing when the evening comes. 🙂
Oh yes, Lord, may we keep our hearts so in tune with yours that we never stop singing. Give us a new song for today along with new mercies and new love for others. May we be singing Your song all day long and well into the evening. You hold today in Your hands, know the plans and oh how You love us when we are singing and even when we aren’t. Thank you for Your grace in each moment and area of our lives. May we never stop singing to You!
Click here to listen to 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman
I had a sweet friend text me last night about Lent; she is wanting to add something to her daily lent, something she can read to learn more about the Bible and was asking for recommendations. I love her desire to not just give up something but add something to enrich these 40 days and grow in her faith.
Here were some of my suggestions:
~You Version Bible App has a great 40-day Lent reading plan that takes you through the gospels. I have not done this reading plan, but one can never go wrong adding time to read the Bible as one practices Lent; after all, isn’t the purpose of fasting to turn our hearts towards Him? And isn’t that what He is truly after, our hearts? What better way than to get into His Mighty Word! The book of John is another great place to start! It has 21 chapters so you could read one chapter a day then pick another book to read. Romans and then 1 John would be good follow ups and there are others too! Let the Lord guide you on this and He will!
~On Calvary’s Hill, 40 readings for the Easter season, is a book by Max Lucado and is full of Scripture and is an in depth look at the final days in the life of our Savior. It is beautiful; I absolutely love the way Mr. Lucado writes.
~Rick Warren’s the Purpose Driven Life is another 40-day devotional book that can change your life. It answers the many questions of our true purpose on Earth and living out the Greatest Commandment and Great Commission.
~Prayer. Prayer is a huge part of fasting, taking our eyes off ourselves and the things of this world and focusing on God. Fasting isn’t always easy, but if we praise the Lord and pray Scriptures when we desire what we are fasting from, it will help us avoid what we are giving up but most importantly take our focus off of ourselves and onto Him and His amazing sacrifice for our souls. Again, isn’t this the purpose of Lent? Let Him hear from you, He loves it!
~Memorizing Scripture. Focus on one a week or maybe just pick one to meditate on during the 40 days of Lent. There are so many to choose from but one of my favorites is Zechariah 4:6, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.” Especially in the realm of fasting (and raising kids ha), this verse can help get our focus off of what we want with His help. His Spirit is unending and overwhelming inside of believers! Let’s put it to good use!
I have to admit, I have never officially practiced Lent, but I enjoyed reading and researching more about it from various denominations viewpoints. I have no doubt that God can work in amazing ways anytime we turn our hearts toward Him, get in His word and pray. What an exciting time Lent can be and it doesn’t have to stop there! May we continually seek the Lord every day of the year. 🙂
The following post is an article I wrote for the March 2014 edition of My Journey of Faith Magazine…I recently reread these words and was overwhelmed at the way they preached to my own heart right here, right now. Oh God is so good. I pray He encourages you in His glassblowing techniques!
Lately I have been thinking about the technique of glassblowing …it starts as a blob and is thrust into and out of a furnace or flame…being refined and purified, beautified by the glassblower. The glassblower knows what he is doing; the glass just takes the heat. It melts and molds and forms this beautiful shape that is known from the beginning only by the glassblower. Into the fire, out of the fire, into the fire…turned in the fire, molded in the fire…the glass would remain a blob if it weren’t put into the fire, continually rotated and carefully blown into by the skilled glassblower…
1 Peter 4:12 warns us to “not be surprised at the fiery trials we are going through as if something strange were happening, but to be very glad – these trials make us partners with Christ in His suffering.” A trial by definition is a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation. God, the Great Glassblower, allows various trials in our lives for HIS glory and for our refinement and spiritual growth. All of our trials, both big and small, are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate His power and presence in and through us.
“These trials will show that your faith is genuine” 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)
In researching more about glassblowing, I learned that the transformation of raw materials into glass takes place around 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit…that is HOT! We, like a blob of glass, are transformed in our trials no matter how hot they get…IF we keep our eyes on Jesus. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, we will stand, no matter the fire, no matter our circumstances, and be refined, purified and strengthened. Only when we take our gaze off of Him and onto the chaos surrounding us do we feel the true heat of the furnace and the weight of our burdens. I’ve walked through fiery trials where I’ve kept my eyes and entire focus on Jesus Christ and it was amazing; I’ve never experienced God more. I’ve also walked through fiery trials where my focus was on ME and my circumstances and it was some of the darkest times in my life. BUT it taught me to let go, trust Him and let Him do the refining and molding.
Are we moldable? Are we letting Him use us in the midst of our trials? Do we know deep down that He LOVES us and has a plan far better than we are capable of understanding? Do we truly know it’s not about US??? This is the world HE created. We are HIS…WE are his glass blobs to be molded and purified into something so beautiful. Are we truly letting Him have us?
Glassblowing involves three furnaces: the first is simply referred to as the furnace. The second is called the glory hole and is used to reheat a piece in between steps of working with it. The final furnace is called the lehr or annealer, and is used to slowly cool the glass (it can take hours or days). This final furnace keeps the glass from cracking or shattering due to thermal stress.
This is beautiful! The glory hole (what a name for this process!) is used to reheat a piece in between steps of working with it…isn’t that just what the Lord does with us? He is working with us, breathing into us and reheating us as needed for HIS glory and our good. That, my friends, is a glory hole. Just as there is no way for glass to become what the glassblower desires it to be without the glory hole, there is no way to learn of faith except through trials (A.B Simpson).
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down but we are not destroyed. Through suffering our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be seen in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:8
And then the final furnace… to keep the glass from cracking or shattering due to thermal stress…oh that I would keep from cracking! I’m convinced this is God’s grace only found in Jesus Christ; His spirit, inside of believers, keeping us from shattering and picking us up if we do. It’s not always the huge fiery trials that break us, sometimes it’s the day in and day out stresses. Whether we bring them about on our own, or are being allowed to experience them, Jesus Christ is there to save us.
“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (MSG)
I’m truly amazed at the glassblowing technique and how similar it is to life. One of my favorite things I’ve learned about glassblowing is the following: “Skilled glassblowers are capable of shaping almost any vessel forms by rotating the pipe, swinging it and controlling the temperature of the piece while they blow.”
He is the Great Glassblower. 
I have a dream…I do. It’s one where all people stop judging by outward appearance and start looking deep into the eyes and souls of others, seeing them for who they really are; seeing them the way God sees them.
“…the Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7
Who hasn’t been guilty of this, right? We are human with human eyes and sinful hearts that judge, criticize, scrutinize and make false assumptions…but this, my friends, is so very wrong and sad and not the way God intends it. We must change it, today!
What does it mean to look past what our eyes see? What does it mean to look past skin color, social status, and even behavior?? It means we live out the second greatest commandment from our Lord and Savior; it means we LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14
To love others the way he does, to see others the way He does can only come from Him. When we truly, truly are loving and seeking Him, amazing love for others, along with true sight for others, is the overflow of this relationship.
“God is love. He who abides in love abides in God and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
When it’s hard to see past race, ethnic background, outer appearance, may we ask Jesus for help; may we ask for His eyes, not our own. May we be a generation that chooses to LOVE!
Oh Father God that you would take our eyes and make them your own. Forgive us when we don’t see past outer appearances. Help us to see the souls and hearts that you have created. Thank you for greater unity in this day and age but grow within us- the people of this time and generation and those coming behind us- a greater desire for unity among your people. We are each handcrafted by YOU! How amazing you are! Help us to love You first so we can love Your people–all of Your people. Help us to live out Your greatest commandment and the most important of faith, hope, and love. You, Lord are LOVE…oh that we would be too!! In Jesus precious name, Amen.
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 (ESV)
This verse is Mary’s amazing response to what God has called her to do, carry and give birth to Jesus; however, it isn’t the first time in Scripture the Lord advises someone about the promise of an impending pregnancy.
My first thoughts go to Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Oh how she longed for years and years to bear a child and it never happened, and then it was too late. In Genesis 18:12, we see Sarah’s response to God’s proclamation that she would in fact have a baby:
“So Sarah laughed…”
She laughed at the thought of it wondering how someone of her age could bear a child. She thought it was funny because it was impossible, right?? But as the angel Gabriel tells Mary in Luke 1:37- with God anything is possible. God kept His promise to Sarah and that next year she gave birth to a baby boy. They named him Isaac, which means he laughs.
“The Lord kept His word and did for Sarah exactly what He had promised.” Genesis 21:1
Now let’s move on to Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth. She, like Sarah, was deemed barren and was also old in age. One day, the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, and advised him that his wife would give birth to a son who would pave the way for the promised Savior. Zechariah immediately didn’t believe what He heard and the result of his doubt was him not being able to speak.
Soon after this encounter between Zechariah and Gabriel, Elizabeth did become pregnant and in due time gave birth to a baby boy. They named him John which means Jehovah has been gracious; has shown favor. This promised child would become John the Baptist and one day baptize Jesus the One and Only in the Jordan River. Zechariah was finally able to speak after John was born, circumcised and named; he praised God with his first several words:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free…just as he promised long ago…” Luke 1:68-70
Three different babies promised, 3 different reactions. In each of these instances, God knew who He was choosing and what their reaction would be. He knew He had equipped each of them to carry out His divine plan, no matter their response.
In His Word, the Lord has promised us many things…the promise of truth and salvation, the promise of forgiveness of sins, the promise of a better place called Heaven, the promise to never flood the earth again, the promise of His return, and the list goes on. Maybe He has promised you something specifically- the salvation of a loved one, a spouse after years of being single, healing from an illness or disease, or perhaps He has promised you a baby? How do we respond to these promises? Do we laugh like Sarah? Disbelieve like Zechariah? Or do we simply obey as Mary did?
The promise of these babies reminds me not only that there is grace in our doubt, laughter and disobedience but that God’s plan, purposes and promises will prevail no matter our reaction to them. May we have faith that acts by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) and may we never forget that He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23b)!!!
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. Luke 1:38a
Oh Mary…the chosen one. Her story is remarkable and one I’m fascinated with this Christmas season. I can’t quit thinking of Luke 1:38, her response to Gabriel, the angel who informed her that she would carry Jesus, the One and Only. It’s a response of faith, loyalty, humility and obedience. Wow. I’ve put myself in her shoes and wondered what my own reaction would have been.
I’ve read that Mary, engaged to Joseph, was possibly around the age of 13 or 14 when she gave birth to Jesus (in that culture, after the onset of adolescence, a thirteen or fourteen year old was commonly preparing for marriage). She was a child having a baby, but not just any baby- the One who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace as told by the prophet Isaiah (9:6b) in the Old Testament (the song Mary Did you Know? comes to mind here).
When I think of Mary’s age and her response of faith I am reminded of Matthew 18:4, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” The Bible tells us often to have child-like faith; it’s a faith that is humbly surrendered to and dependent on God, a faith that is unwavering, full of awe and wonder with complete trust and hope in God. I think it’s fair to say this ordinary girl from Nazareth had amazing child-like faith.
As I examine my own faith, I am made fully aware of areas that have become a little hardened over the years, areas where my total trust in and obedience to Him waivers. What about you? Are there areas you aren’t fully trusting or surrendering to the Lord? As we pray and ask God to shine His light on these areas in our lives, hearts, souls and minds, may we remember Mary’s response, I am the Lord’s servant.
Lord, we thank you for Mary and her eager obedience and surrender to You. For the amazing example of child-like faith she had. May it remind us to listen and obey You and to never stop strengthening and growing our faith. Give us humble faith, Lord. Just as you chose Mary to carry out your divine plan, you have chosen each one of us to do the same but in different ways. May we return to you as children fully in awe of who you are and remember what you have done in our lives as well as other’s. Return to us the joy of our salvation, Lord. We are your servants, here for You. We love you we praise you, Amen.
It is the role of faith not to question but to simply obey. A.B. Simpson
In looking up the word “gratitude” from various sources, most of the definitions were very similar and what one might expect: thankfulness, the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness; a natural expression of thanks in response to blessings, protection, or love, etc… One definition, however, significantly stuck out to me: gratitude is a joyful commitment of one’s personality to God.
Researching gratitude chronologically in the Bible, it took me a while to find it, which was surprising to me! Although we don’t see a “thank you” in the first few chapters of Scripture, I’m certain Adam and Eve walked so closely with God their hearts were wrapped in perfect gratitude. They were joyfully committed to God, until they ate of the forbidden fruit. The Hebrew term for gratitude, “hakarat hatov” means “recognizing the good”; surely after they were cast out of the Garden they recognized the good they had while in there, although there’s no more mention of them verbally praising God for what was or what could have been.
Moving down several generations to Noah we see everyone has turned their back on God, except Noah; he worshipped and loved God. Perhaps his amazing obedience was found in his heart of gratitude and what saved and set him and his family apart from those who were wiped out in the great flood. I can’t imagine a lot (if any!) gratitude going on in anyone other than Noah – the Bible tells us the people of this time were full of evil and sin, which is why God sent the flood. If the opposite of joyful is sad and the opposite of commitment is refusal, could it be that the people of Noah’s time sadly refused their personality to God? I’ve heard that the root of all sin is ingratitude; it certainly seems to be a great place for the devil to get a foothold as he did in every person but Noah during this time.
Abraham, the father of faith and many generations, was one whose heart of gratitude almost cost him the life of his beloved son, but God spared Isaac. His commitment to God was greater than any other thing, even his own son. God sparing Isaac shows us how He blessed Abraham’s obedience. Even when he questioned, even when he doubted, obedience flowed from Abraham’s heart of gratitude.
In Exodus 15 we find Moses and the Israelites singing a song of deliverance and praise after God led Israel out of Egypt and saved them by parting the Red Sea. This is the first record of a written song of praise to the Lord and it is beautiful! An excerpt:
“I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously; He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise Him- my father’s God, and I will exalt Him!” Exodus 15:1-2 (NLT)
First Chronicles 16 records King David’s first song of praise to God, and oh how I love it! An excerpt and my favorite part:
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exult in His Holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him. Remember the wonders He has performed, His miracles, and the rulings He has given.” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12 (NLT)
Having written the majority of the Psalms, David went on to write more songs of praise than anyone else in Scripture; perhaps this was why God called David “a man after His own heart.” Despite his shortcomings, sins and failures, he was committed to God and had a heart of gratitude which never ceased praising God.
Have you stopped praising God? Are you joyfully committed to Him or maybe just partially committed? What’s so interesting is the use of “gratitude” in the English language has significantly decreased over the decades…I look at my own life and wonder if the same is true? Have I let what I want and my many prayer requests take over my heart of gratefulness, gratitude and praise? Has my lack of possessing a heart of gratitude been the cause of any disobedience? Having a heart of gratitude, in constant thanks and praise to God can only help us to recognize the good no matter our circumstances. Starting our days with praise and thanks…for the air in our lungs, for the day He has made, for the grace He has so wonderfully given us in His son Jesus Christ. Yes, living with hearts of gratitude is the only way to live. When we are truly grateful, our lives will show it.
This Thanksgiving season and in the days beyond, renew and vow a joyful commitment of your personality and all that you are to Him. He’s worth it and the blessings He will bestow on you because of your joyful commitment cannot be numbered. 🙂
One day I had a small leaf stuck to my windshield. It wasn’t very big and wasn’t even blocking my line of vision driving but I found my eyes kept gravitating to it as I was driving down the road. This would blur my vision of the road. It wasn’t a bad thing, it was a small leaf and leaves aren’t bad right? Not like some things that end up on our windshields from time to time, you know, things from birds and such :). However, this leaf was a distraction; it shifted my focus to it and not the road, which could have caused me to have a wreck and never make it to my destination.
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” Proverbs 4:25 (ESV)
Distractions come in many shapes and sizes. Some good, some bad…what isn’t a distraction for one may be a distraction for another. The definition of distraction is a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else. If Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, then as Christians, our eyes are to be on Jesus. Anything that prevents us from giving our full attention to Him can be classified as a distraction.
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.” Psalm 119:15 (ESV)
Look at your life, your priorities, your day…prayerfully discern anything that takes your gaze from God, off His ways, His purpose, priorities and true calling He has placed on your life. Does anything blur where He has you going? Is there something that shifts your focus to it and any issues that come with it rather than what He has called you to? Remove it if so- even if it’s hard. Certain distractions aren’t always easy to give up, especially if they are good things (and especially if you err on the side of people pleasing but that’s another post for another day!), but He will help you.
“Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.” Proverbs 4:25-27 (MSG)
The leaf eventually blew away on it’s own and now my vision through my windshield is clear once again. 🙂 
While at Wal-Mart one day I picked up some small striped pumpkins, mainly because I thought they looked really neat and would add to my fall décor. When I took them out of the bag at home, I noticed how vastly different each one was even though they were the same type of pumpkins. I immediately thought of how different each of us are; how different God makes each of us. We are all human, we are all made in His image (Genesis 1:27), yet we individually have certain character traits and physical features that set us apart from one another, just like these pumpkins.
Not only did these little pumpkins remind me of God’s creativeness in fearfully (meaning with reverence and awe) and wonderfully designing each and every person that ever was, is and will be, it makes me feel very special and loved to know that I was thought of and known even before my conception- even before the world began we were thought of by our God! It’s so amazing!
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” Jeremiah 1:5a
“Long before He laid down the earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love…” Ephesians 1:4a
We were made by God and for God. Ephesians 2:10 states that we are His handiwork, designed for good works He has already determined for us, when we walk in them. Basically, God has a unique plan for each and every one of us! When we walk in the way of Him and His design for us according to His Word, He does a mighty work in and through us. By faith and in our obedience, His artistic process of making us into His image continues. It’s beautiful, isn’t it!?
You, like these cute pumpkins, are one of a kind; there is no one else like you nor will there be anyone else like you. Memorize these truths for yourself and let them sink into your being so you never doubt your (or other’s!) beautiful design, uniqueness, purpose or the plan God has for you (or them!)!
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An activity for children:
-Gather two or more pumpkins (other items could work great too- fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, rocks, clouds), have them take note of the differences in each one…if you have older children, they could write them down, maybe making it a fun game of finding ten things that are different between the pumpkins, you could also circle any obvious differences on the pumpkins.
-Talk to your child about how just as God created these pumpkins one of a kind, he made each person one of a kind. Let them know they were created in their Creator’s image, they are His workmanship, His work of art and that they were thought of by God way before they were even in your belly! Talk about how awesomely and wonderfully God made them; how unique, beautiful, loved and wanted they are by God and you!
-List the ways they are unique and beautiful. If they have siblings, celebrate their differences. Let them know they are one of a kind and there’s no need to try and be like anyone else. Often we want to compare our children (or ourselves!) to others…this, too, takes away from God’s unique design of your child, try not to do it.
-Grab a Bible and look up the verses together, they are woven all throughout the Bible–you could make this a Bible drill type of game or just use it as an opportunity to get into the Bible together and find the verses together.
-For younger children, the verses can be broken down:
-If your children can read, write the verses (or fragments) out and have them read them aloud. Have them practice memorizing the verses in their entirety.
-Remind them that just as they are God’s handiwork, so are others; they should not only treat themselves as such, but others as well.
-Talk about God’s special plan and purpose He has specifically laid out just for them. Include what God has already done in their life, or any way God has used your child to grow your faith.
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I want my children to know these truths and understand how vastly important and unique they both are. I couldn’t wait to sit down with them, observe the differences in these sweet pumpkins and discuss the creativeness of our God in each of them…my little pumpkins. 🙂
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
Oh my goodness this verse. Today and every moment of every day.
So often our thoughts can get the best of us…leading us far away from the thoughts the Lord would want us to have, far away from peace and joy and sometimes straight into temptation and sin.
I know sometimes I will rehash conversations that have already taken place thinking of what I should’ve said or shouldn’t have said…occasionally I might speculate or make assumptions about what others are thinking or question their motives…often I think about future events that more than likely will never even take place which causes unnecessary anxiety, worry, etc… What a waste of time and energy, right!? These thoughts and those like them are not from God or of God!
It’s important to recognize what’s going on in our minds. When impure, false, wrong thoughts enter into our brains we must nip them in the bud before they reach our hearts and souls, taking root. Memorizing and mediating on Philippians 4:8 is an awesome place to start. It’s also important to remember that God is the God of peace, not chaos; He’s the author and perfector of our faith, not our fears; He is truth and in Him are no lies, assumptions or speculations. If He is the Lord of our life, is He the Lord of our thoughts?
My daughter went through a time when she would tell me when she was thinking a bad thought (normally having to do with monsters under her bed or things in the dark- oh to be a child again!). I would ask her if what she was thinking was from God, the answer always being “no”. We then would shift our focus to the things of God, that which is TRUE and that which brings peace and joy, not fear. We would talk about His beautiful creation, our thankfulness for the day and we would pray for her thoughts to be from Him. We would also occasionally sing, this coming from some awesome advice left behind by my Nana.
“It’s hard to think bad thoughts when you are singing a happy tune.” ~Virginia K. Sprott
So what’s going on in your head today? Is it true? Honorable? Right? Pure? Worthy of your time to even be thinking about?? Is it time to give those thoughts to Jesus and ask Him to renew your mind? Is it time to start singing??
Captivate our thoughts Lord! Own them! Make them of you, not of what we speculate, don’t know and can’t control. Our minds are weak, Lord, may we fill them up with You. May our thoughts be governed by Your Spirit and not by our flesh. May they be pure and full of grace for others and ourselves. You know our thoughts and you love us anyway~ and that is something worthy of our praise. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
~If you are looking for further help with your thoughts, Me, Myself and Lies is an awesome DVD driven bible study by Jennifer Rothschild that is all about what is in our “thought closet.” It’s full of scripture and Godly wisdom about transforming our thoughts. I highly recommend it for yourself or a small group study!
I originally wrote this for My Journey of Faith online magazine in October 2012. Today I am revisiting it to meditate on these verses and apply them to my life this week. On Monday, our daughter will start 1st grade at a new school. I know, it sounds silly to be fearful/anxious about something so normal but there’s just a lot to take in and a lot going through my head. SO I need to focus on what God tells me about fear and anxiety and that only in Him will I find the peace I need to not only get through life but 1st grade too :). He goes before us! He knows. Ahhh I am feeling better all ready. Praying these words encourage you in any fear or anxiety you may be experiencing. He is bigger than our fears and can calm us of all uncertainties.
“The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed”
Deuteronomy 31:8
What if fear did not exist?? What if there was no such thing as that annoying little word that can do so much?? What would you do?? What would you say?? Who would you become?? How often does fear hold you back??
As I attempt to plan a 10 year anniversary trip with my husband, I have found myself full of fear. Fear of flying over the ocean, fear for our safety in another country, fear of leaving our children, the list goes on and on. I am slightly annoyed with these fearful feelings that keep cropping up, but it has really made me think about fear, how often I let it control me, and how, as a believer, this fear goes directly against what God has taught me in His word. I don’t have to define it, we know what it is. Any anxiety, nervousness, apprehension, anticipation, feelings of being afraid or scared is all the result of an underlying fear from within. There’s fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of change. Fear of dying or losing someone we love. Fear of what others think. The list is endless!!
Fear has stopped me dead in my tracks and kept me from saying something I know the Lord wants me to say. It has kept me from doing things I know God wants me to do, and for a long time, I know it held me back from giving myself completely to Jesus. Ultimately, and if we let it, fear will keep us from being the person God designed us to be.
Throughout the different translations of the Bible, fear in its various forms is mentioned numerous times—well, actually it’s mentioned A LOT. God knows it is in our human nature to fear, but over and over He tells us “Do not fear.” “Do not be afraid.” In His Word (and on our knees in prayer), He equips us with all we need to get through our fears. One of my all time favorite verses of Scripture that I cling to is Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail or forsake you. DO NOT FEAR or be dismayed” (emphasis added). He goes ahead of us. He KNOWS what is going to happen, when it’s going to happen, and why it’s going to happen. We all too often can only see what’s directly in front of us, or whatever we are facing, but He sees the big picture. The whole entire thing. Regularly, I have to remind myself of this because my thoughts can certainly carry me away from the fact that He is all knowing, He loves me and He has a plan—and it’s PERFECT. That is so comforting, and in that, I find peace.
To me, the opposite of fear is faith. Jesus spoke it Himself in Matthew 8:26 “Why are you afraid, you have so little faith?” FAITH is what it’s all about. It’s a core theme throughout Scripture and any fears we have chip away at our faith. We can’t have both, can we? God’s desire is for us to have complete trust in Him, in all we do, no matter how big or small it may be. He wants us to BELIEVE that He will cover our fears with the comfort of His grace, but we have to seek Him first in our fears. We have to turn to Him first when fear starts creeping in. Go to His word, get on our knees, and recognize that those thoughts are NOT from Him. He HAS NOT given us a spirit of fear. But of power. Love. And a sound mind. How awesome and comforting is that? It’s right there in 2 Timothy 1:7. He has not given us a spirit of fear. HE does NOT want us to fear or worry. Philippians 4:6, 7 “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything….then you will experience God’s peace…” May we all turn our fears into prayers and find peace in the fact that God is in control.
So I have a choice. Will I be fearful, afraid, anxious or worried about this trip and while on this trip? Or will I have faith that God is who He says He is: my fortress, my refuge and strength when I am weak, my light, and my helper. Will I listen and seek Him first in my fear? He CAN and will give me what no one else can: Peace. Isaiah 26:3 “You Lord give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.” Truly I can conquer fear by trusting in the Lord. I choose to trust. After all, can all our worries add a single moment to our lives? (Matthew 6:27)
What will you choose??
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7
About a month ago we had a severe monsoon-like storm that uprooted dozens (hundreds?) of trees. These weren’t small trees but big, old trees blown over at the roots; beautiful trees no longer shooting upward towards the sky but laying on the earth (and several rooftops I might add). What was once standing so tall, strong and beautiful was now lifeless with the leaves quickly turning from green to brown as there was no nourishment from below. A great number of these trees caused moderate to severe damage on surrounding structures; individuals are still picking up the pieces and attempting to correct the destruction from these trees being uprooted.
Seeing all of this made me think of this verse and how we are to be deep-rooted into Jesus. Picture that…picture your roots growing down into Him and your life being built on Him…it’s beautiful isn’t it!? And so strong and secure and stable, no matter what monsoon-like storms rage in.
“Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” Ephesians 3:17
It’s interesting how quickly the beautiful green leaves turned to brown once the tree was uprooted. John 15:4 says, “Remain in Me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me.” Just as the trees withered up quickly once they were severed at the roots, so do we if we choose to sever ourselves from Jesus. The fruit that His Word promises won’t be there if we aren’t remaining in Him, quickly turning from a luscious green to a dreary brown. I’ve experienced this in my own walk, when I’m not abiding in Him…the peace isn’t there, the joy is gone and other things creep in…things like anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, worry, etc. It’s a daily (momently!) surrender to remain in Him, but in doing so, we glorify Him and reap the benefits of His goodness and grace.
Something else to think about is that most of these trees didn’t just fall and land peacefully on the ground, in most cases, they took a few things with them- another tree, fences, houses, cars, power lines, etc… When we aren’t deep-rooted into Jesus, when we uproot ourselves from the One who has saved us, it doesn’t only affect us, it affect those around us, causing damage we may never even see or notice, but it’s there. Just believe that when you are deep-rooted into Jesus others will flourish too, it’s part of His divine plan; for those who are deep rooted to shine brightly for Him showing others the fruit of getting nourishment from Him- grace, love, joy, peace, kindness, eternity…
Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life? If not, please dig deeper into His Word or contact someone who can counsel you towards a life in Christ. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, are your roots growing down into Him or into something or someone else? Really spend some time thinking about what your life is built on.
Heavenly Father, that our roots would go deep into You, our Creator and Savior, the Author and Perfector of our Faith. That we would build our lives on You and not the many distractions this world has to offer. That the fruit You produce in us would carry over into those we love and come into contact with. That we would glorify you in all that we do and stand firmly on You, Your promises, and who You say we are. May we humbly surrender daily to You. We thank you and we praise you for who You are and what You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I’ll leave you with another beautiful scripture to meditate on today…
“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 it’s roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it’s leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Just as a tree is deep-rooted into the earth but standing tall towards the heavens, may we be deep-rooted in Christ, standing tall and strong for Him. 🙂
“Holy Spirit you are welcome here…come flood this place and fill the atmosphere…your Glory God is what our hearts long for, to be overcome by your presence, Lord” Holy Spirit, Jesus Culture*
We sang this song at church last Sunday and I have been singing it ever since. It really has me thinking…Is the Holy Spirit welcome in my body? I know It is there, I am saved, but how do I welcome (or unwelcome) His Spirit inside me?
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to your own…” 1 Corinthians 6:19
I’ve always known that my body is a temple so I should treat it as such, but the other day when I read 1 Corinthians 6:19, it struck a different chord within me. This verse, coupled with the lyrics to “Holy Spirit” constantly in my head and on my heart, led me to believe I needed to dig deeper on this…so here we go. 🙂
If Jesus is Lord and Leader of our lives, when we accepted Him, he gave us not only the gift of eternal life, but the gift of the Holy Spirit to reside in us as we live out our earthly lives. This Spirit – God’s Spirit – assists in convicting us of our sins and changing us from the inside out to become more like Christ. When we choose to surrender our lives to Him, he chisels away at who we used to be; He saves us from who we used to be and His Spirit grows within us to change us into the likeness of Him. The Holy Spirit cleans up our messes -because we are all just messes, especially without Jesus Christ! John 15:5b says, “For apart from me you can do nothing.” So that must mean that with Him we can do everything, right?! According to Philippians 4:13 we sure can (I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength“)!!
I think what struck me differently about my body being a temple is that in the past, I associated the verse more with what goes into or on my body, and not what I am doing with my body or what is coming out of my body- specifically my mouth. Are my words and actions reflective of the Holy Spirit living inside of me? Galatians 5:22 and 23 says that the Holy Spirit produces peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (um yes please!?). Is my tone of voice and my body language producing these fruits?? I can check mark several that I have been struggling with and while it’s disappointing and frustrating, His grace is there to catch me when I fall–full of forgiveness that allows me to move forward, to learn as needed and to not look back. There is no condemnation or shame in Christ!
So…we have God’s spirit inside of us as believers. WOW. How awesome is that!? Inside of me is the capability to be peace, love, joy, etc…, no matter my circumstances; but I don’t always choose to do it Jesus’ way. How often I give into my own selfish, pride-filled desires, thinking I have the right to. What does that do to His Spirit inside of me?? I’d say it pushes it aside or squashes it. So I push my God, the One who made me, the One who saved me, aside so I can have my way. It may feel good at the time, it may feel right at the time, but eventually His precious Spirit inside of me wells up and lets me know it wasn’t the right thing to do (thank you Jesus for this conviction!). It’s not always easy but it’s needed in order to grow and to change, and without it we wouldn’t always know where we need Jesus.
God’s Spirit takes up residence inside of our bodies at salvation; sanctification is the process when we choose to let Him thrive, let His fruits grow and take over who we are and what we do. So today, let’s make that choice and welcome His spirit to rise up and fill our hearts, souls and minds. Everyday (every moment!!), let’s say yes to Him and let His Spirit influence us to do what He wants us to do and live how He wants us to live. We cannot be like Christ without allowing Him to flourish over our flesh and worldly desires.
Oh Holy Spirit you are welcome here! Flood us today!
*Click here to listen to “Holy Spirit” 🙂
You know what makes each sunset or sunrise one of a kind? The clouds surrounding it. Every morning and every night it’s something different…and I LOVE it. I look forward to it. Each rise and set portrays God’s glory. It demonstrates His consistency, His sovereignty over the earth, His creativity and His great love for us.
While a sunrise or sunset with just the sun is certainly beautiful, when clouds are present, it brings about a uniqueness and makes each one original. The colors, contrast and rays of light the clouds produce are breathtaking!
It’s neat to think that the clouds, which so often produce rain can add such beauty to a sky. These clouds have the potential, and sometimes succeed, to stop the sun from visibly shining, but never do we see a rainbow without clouds…never do we see such magnificent pinks, purples, oranges and yellows without the clouds there, reflecting the light.
“When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds.” Genesis 9:14
Now apply this to life–the very “clouds” that have produced rain or had the capability to stop us from shining also have the power to make us all the more vibrant and unique. Do we see the true beauty in these clouds? Can we hold onto God’s promises of a rainbow?
Tonight, look at the sunset and remember how special and unique you are and don’t ever doubt what God can bring out of the “clouds” in your life. And as a dear friend put it today…shine on. 🙂
When I think about how much God loves us I sometimes can’t wrap my head around it all. It’s so big, so overwhelming…but I find rest in knowing it to be true and so amazing!God is our Creator; we were in His care even before we were born (Isaiah 44:2). He created us in His image (Genesis 1:27) and we are His cherished personal treasures. He knows (and cares about!) every single detail of our lives. NOTHING is too big or too small for God. I love the analogy Beth Moore uses in the study The Law of Love of a baby tied into its mother’s womb, and how He is “tied into” and bound into our very being. Think of how bound we are to our own children…as our creator He is even more bound into us. Matthew 10:30 states that “even the very hairs on our head are numbered,” which is astounding because if your hair is anything like mine that number changes daily! Oh how He loves us!
God is love (I John 4:8). No human will ever be able to meet our deepest needs; only God can fill that hole inside each of us with His unconditional love. It’s a love that knows no end. A love that knows exactly what we need. No matter what has happened, what we have done, or how far we have run from him, His love is always there with open arms full of security and forgiveness. He has even given us a book about His love, so we would know and abide in it. It is a precious book full of abounding love from the Father that we must all keep close to our hearts. Oh how He loves us!
This world is not easy; God never said it would be. In fact the Bible tells us that we WILL suffer and have pain and difficulty in this world, but it also says this world is not our home. When we look at things happening around us, we can’t possibly begin to understand why…but the God who loves us knows why. He knows how, He knows when, and He promises better things to come for those who live for Him. His wisdom and understanding are above all else and we have to TRUST that He loves us individually, knows us individually and created us individually. He has a perfect plan for each of our lives. This plan, however imperfect it may seem to us, is perfect to Him. Oh how He loves us!
Two words: Jesus Christ (have I mentioned that He loves us!?). Oh that He would send a Savior; oh that He would send His Son, a man who knew no sin, for you and me. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” And that is certainly what Jesus Christ did for us. As many years removed as we are from the day Jesus died, we still have to know and believe that the God who loves us sent His one and only son to die on a wooden cross to take on the sin and bad choices of the world. So WE could be free. So WE can receive HIS never-ending forgiveness and grace. WOW. What a sacrifice. Oh how he loves us!
To sum it up, God loves us. And the God who loves us wants us. He has no greater desire than to fill each of us with His Spirit. He wants us to reach out to Him, accept His love, and love Him in return. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (Deuteronomy 6:5).
He chose us as His cherished personal treasure…is He our treasure?
*This article was originally published in My Journey of Faith online magazine in February 2013. Click here to read the original and other stories of God’s goodness and grace!
Meet Me in the Mornings 
