Month: March 2019

2 Cor 5:18 All of this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation….
God loves me so much that He sent His son for my sake, so that I could be restored to Him. As an extension of that gift, He has given me (and you and everyone else who has been freed from the bondage of sin by His mercy) “the ministry of reconciliation.” I’ve never given much thought to this idea before, but it feels incredibly important and powerful, this ministry that has been entrusted to us.
2 Cor 5:19 …that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
Reconciliation is the act of restoring to friendship or harmony; the act of re-establishing. It is so easy in this world to feel like a total screw-up, like you have messed up so badly that there is just no hope for you. But the astounding beauty of God’s fierce love through Christ is that He wants all of us, every single one of us, reconciled to Him. He wants all of His children to know they are never too far gone to come back home. And He wants US to tell them.
2 Cor 5:20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your all-encompassing love for us. Thank You for seeing our worth in You despite our mistakes and missteps. Thank You for reconciling us to Yourself through Your Son, a gift we could never earn nor deserve. We are not worthy, Lord, but we are so grateful. Help us each to take seriously this ministry of reconciliation. Help us to shine Your light for all to see. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Cor 5:17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
In reading one of my daily devotionals this morning, I came across this gem: “Praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God” (from Experiencing God Day-by-Day). God has proven Himself, repeatedly, to be steadfast and true, even when I struggle. He has proven that He is sovereign, even when life seems in chaos. This morning His nature and trustworthiness has me praising Him even more earnestly for His love, His mercy, His victory. Thank You, Jesus.
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
In a world with so much suffering and pain, what allows me to praise His holy name so steadfastly? I know that I can trust Him. I know that He has already won the ultimate battle. He has won my heart and soul. He has conquered the grave. He has redeemed this lost and weary world. I am more than a conqueror because my mighty Savior is already victorious. I can praise Him because this world is not my home. Thank You, Jesus.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of Your victory over sin and death. Thank You for loving all of us, deeply and fiercely, simply because we are Yours. Thank You for continually seeking those who are lost and for allowing me to point everyone I meet to You. Draw us closer. Help us to rejoice in You always. Amen.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Have a blessed day.

1 Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
I think others see me as a bit of a “Pollyanna,” always looking on the bright side, always pointing out the positive, always encouraging. The truth is, that’s God. Sometimes, when I’m stuck in my own head, when I’m exhausted and afraid, my inner Pollyanna is no where to be found. But when others need uplifting, when He puts someone in my path who needs encouragement, I simply can’t help but be positive. Thank You, Jesus.
2 Cor 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
God is so good to me. He has provided me with an amazing support network of family, framily, friends who love and encourage me. All those times when I’m struggling to put one foot in front of the other? He always sends me help and hope in human form, one of His many angels on earth. And I hope that this light He places in me, which shines so brightly for Him, provides the same help and hope to others when they need it. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You see us, know us, and use us to uplift and encourage Your people. Thank Your for giving us hope when we struggle and for using us to shine Your light and Your hope when others are struggling. Help us never to forget that “we are all just walking each other home” to You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 32:10b …the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.
Have a blessed day.

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Yesterday, my sister posted some observations on Facebook about 1 Cor 13. The one that struck me the hardest was the fact that 1 Cor 13 talks about how love is to be given, shared, not how it is received. Love is patient and kind, not arrogant or rude. It is not irritable or resentful. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. This is how love acts. This is how love is given. Jesus, help me to love like You love.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
I am incredibly guilty of focusing on how love is received. It is easy to say, “Well, I *tried* to be kind, loving, compassionate, and that person was nasty to me in return, so I’m done.” We are not charged with loving people to the same degree they love us. We are told, again and again, to love one another in the same way that Christ loves us, to focus on how we give love, not on how others receive it. Jesus, Help me.
1 Cor 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this message. Thank You for loving me, fiercely and completely, even though I don’t deserve Your love and could never earn it, even though I’m sometimes grumpy and surly in response to Your love. Help me to focus on how I show Your love to others, Lord, regardless of how my actions are received. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Have a blessed day.

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
When our boys were little, if they were sick or something was amiss, we were often offered well-meaning, sometimes conflicting advice about what we should do to help them feel better. We decided early on that when it came to situations like that, we would trust the doctor over all the well-meaning, unsolicited advice. As parents, that philosophy served us well.
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing….I am making a way in the wilderness….
Jesus is the ultimate healer and physician. There is so much in life that is confusing and nonsensical, so much I don’t understand. Thankfully, He is big enough, strong enough, compassionate enough for me to say what I really feel, even if that is: “Lord, This utterly stinks. It’s not fair. It’s not right. It’s not ok. I don’t want this. I don’t know how to deal with this. I am so afraid.” He is big enough, strong enough, compassionate enough to handle all of our feelings. He sees a way, He makes a way, even when all we see is wilderness. Jesus, Help me Trust You, even when I can’t see the way.
Isaiah 42:16a I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your love and compassion. Thank You for being big enough to handle my fear, confusion, and pain. Thank You for always making a way in the wilderness, for leading me along winding, unfamiliar paths. Help me to trust You so that I can take the next step, even when I can’t perceive the way forward. Thank You for Your steadfast presence and unfailing love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.”
Have a blessed day. 

Jer 29:11 “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.”
My sister claimed this verse as her own many years ago. She was struggling with health issues that eventually led to a liver transplant. For many months, we weren’t sure if she was going to make it, yet she was confident in God’s promise, and while she was hopeful she would be healed on this side of the veil, she knew God would heal her one way or the other. Her faith has long been an inspiration for me.
Psalm 39:7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You.
The season of Lent, reading and studying about what Jesus suffered, especially on His last day, is difficult for me. To think of what He endured and of the hopelessness His followers and loved ones must have felt, especially on that Saturday, hurts my heart in a way that is hard for me to describe. But without the pain, fear, loneliness, and uncertainty of Good Friday and Saturday, there could be no empty tomb and risen Savior on Easter morning. Thank You, Jesus.
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your saving grace and mercy. Thank You for being with us, always, especially through the darkness and fear. We don’t always understand Your ways, Lord, and sometimes life can be so hard. Help us never to lose sight of the fact that You love us, deeply, that You are with us, always. Help us never to forget that You conquered the grave and that even if we cannot understand the things of this life, we can trust Your great love and compassion for us. Help us to cling to You. Always. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Have a blessed day.

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When it comes to the safety of the hubs and of the oldest on the trail, the safety of the youngest and of me at home, I have such peace about this entire adventure. It is truly a blessing to feel such peace because it is not my nature. I am so tremendously thankful to my Savior for blanketing me with His peace about these things.
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
And on the heels of my praise, I have to confess the anxiety and stress that still clings to me about things that seem so small and insignificant, things that in the grand scheme of things I know will work out—or won’t—and life will move seamlessly forward regardless. So why do I worry, stress, and fret over the little things? Jesus, Help me.
Isaiah 26:3 The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your peace, which transcends all understanding, for the reminder that there are still areas of my life where I am choosing to stress about my circumstances instead of trust in You. I do believe, Lord, in Your power and sovereignty, Your goodness and mercy, Your fierce love for me. I don’t want to hold anything back from You, Lord. Help me to lay ALL my burdens at Your feet, even those that feel too silly and insignificant to bother You with. Wrap me in Your peace. I do believe, Lord; help my unbelief. Draw me closer. Amen.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart….
Have a blessed day. 

Micah 6:8 …what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
As a mother and a teacher, I often feel the difficulty of balancing fairness and kindness. Every child is an individual with his own quirks, and allowances often need to be made for individual difficulties or deficits. And to protect an individual’s privacy, you can’t usually explain why an allowance that seems unfair has been made to compensate for something others don’t know is an issue.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you….
And then you have those who just can’t get themselves into gear, maybe because they are lazy, maybe because they are stuck in survival mode in all aspects of their lives. As someone who strives to be fair and equitable to all, always, I often feel it to be difficult terrain to navigate.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the scripture You have laid on my heart. You call me to be kind and merciful, Lord, and I strive to do that daily, but I also feel there are standards that must be upheld. How do I balance people and expectations in a way that is fair and equitable to all, that respects and protects basic human dignity and upholds any sort of standard? Help me, Jesus, to love as You love, to serve as You serve, to do my job in a way that points others to You, not to standards. Draw me closer. Amen.
Zechariah 7:9 “…show kindness and mercy to one another….”
Have a blessed day.

Luke 6:45 …For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
This verse gave me pause this morning because I think so many people, myself included, can be very careless about what we say. I consider my heart to be full of goodness, love, and light, but sometimes, when I’m tired, frustrated, angry, the things that come out of my mouth are anything but uplifting and kind. Jesus, Help me.
Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
For me, the struggle is how to remain the kind, loving, uplifting person I consider myself to be and still feel, process, and deal with the negative emotions when they come. I don’t want to hide behind a shiny mask of positivity that is perceived as fake. That’s not who I am. I don’t want to stuff down the negative until I explode. That’s not healthy. I want to be loving and kind but also real. That’s what I aim for daily—in these reflections and in life. Jesus, Help me.
2 Cor 4:13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that what I say is important. Help me to pay attention to my words, Lord. Help them to be positive and uplifting. But also help me to be real, not putting lipstick on the pigs of life but being as uplifting as possible always, even in negative situations, being real and genuine and broken but also praising You, the light of my life, always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 63:3 Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars!
Reading this verse this morning took me back 14 years to when the hubs and I were expecting our oldest. We had meticulously picked out a nursery theme (sun, moon, and stars), bathed the nursery in soothing color, and painted this scripture above the crib. We were ready to welcome our bundle of joy.
Gen 21:20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness.
Our youngest turns 12 next week and our oldest will be 14 in a month, and sometimes I still marvel at my naivety as a parent and at God’s amazing grace and provision. Life often feels much more like a tangled wilderness than sweetly singing celestial beings, but I know God’s got us, He is in control—through the wilderness of the AT, through the wilderness of middle school, through the wilderness of life. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 139:13 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reassurance of today’s scripture. You know each of us intimately, Lord. You saw us before all beginning. You created us, knitting us together with love and care. You know every hair on our heads, every breath in our bodies, every heartache and triumph we will endure. And You walk with us every step of this journey. Thank You, Jesus. Help us to never lose sight of the fact that we are Yours and that You are with us always. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Have a blessed day.