Month: April 2019

Isaiah 41:10a …fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God….
I am eternally thankful for the hope that Easter provides, but I wonder what that first Holy Saturday was like for the disciples. Did they have hope? Did they realize that they were not alone in their darkness and despair? Could they feel God’s presence?
Isaiah 41:10b …I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Lord, You knew that we would travel dark and difficult paths in this life. You knew there would be times when we felt utterly alone and bereft. Thank You for the assurance that You are with us, even when we can’t feel it. Thank You for making a way in our wilderness, even when we can’t perceive it. Thank You for Your presence, Your mercy, Your love. Always.
Isaiah 41:13a For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your eternal salvation, for the hope of Easter. Thank You for walking a dark path for our sake. You sincerely know what it feels like. You can empathize with our pain and sorrow. Thank You for willingly putting Yourself in that position for us, because of Your great love for us. Thank You for being with us always, especially in difficult times. Draw us closer. Amen.
Isaiah 41:13b …it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Have a blessed day.

John 5:39-40 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.
Words are safe. They can be analyzed and categorized. They don’t change. Yes, they are open to interpretation, but once you’ve decided how to interpret them, once you’ve justified that interpretation with support from the text, you are good. This is what it says. This is what it means. End of discussion.
John 18:21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”
Jesus, however, was much more complicated. He was an upstart. He took “the way we’ve always done things” and turned it on its ear. He preached and lived love, compassion, and mercy. His mission was simple: Love God. Love and serve others. Point everyone to God. His message was complicated: Love others, even when they persecute you. Love others, even when they screw up massively. Love others, even when they think and feel, live and love so very differently from you. That’s not so easy much of the time. It’s much easier to argue semantics.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your message of love and compassion. Thank You for being so much more than just words on a page, for living, for dying for our sake, for conquering the grave, for desiring a relationship with each one of us. Give us the strength to live and love boldly for You. Draw us closer, Lord. Help us to point others to You. Amen.
Heb 5:9 …having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him….
Have a blessed day.

John 13:5 Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with a towel that was tied around Him.
On the night He was betrayed, after Jesus ate with His disciples, He washed their feet. Even in today’s time, that can be an unpleasant task, but back then, when you walked everywhere, when indoor plumbing wasn’t a thing, to wash someone’s feet was a dirty, lowly task. His last act, His last interaction with those He dearly loved, was a humble act of service. Lord, Help me to be more like You.
John 13:7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
There is so much we can’t understand on this side of the veil. God’s ways are not like our ways, and we are shackled by our limited human understanding. But we know the fiercely loving, deeply compassionate heart of God. So even when we don’t understand, even when life seems utterly senseless, we can cling to the goodness of God, knowing that somehow, someway, He can use all things for our good and His glory. Thank You, Jesus.
John 13:15 “For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your loving kindness. Thank You for leaving us with an example of humble service even as You knew Your time was drawing near. Thank You for the reminder that we don’t always understand what You are doing but that we always know Your heart. Help us to trust Your love and Your goodness, even when we are afraid and confused. Draw us closer to You as we serve each other. Amen.
John 13:34 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
Have a blessed day. 

Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Lord, Thank You for understanding our human limitations and weaknesses, for praying that our faith will not fail us in trials, for knowing that it will falter because of our humanity, for encouraging us, when we finally get ourselves back on track, to encourage others. 
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.”
Lord, Thank You for the compassion with which You treated Simon Peter. You told him of his denial but assured him he’d get back on track, and when he did, he needed to encourage his brothers. That pointed look at the time of his denial was not Your way of saying “I told you this would happen,” but rather Your way of saying, “Don’t forget what comes next. You WILL turn back to me. I AM going ahead of you. You need to encourage your brothers.”
Luke 22:62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your fierce love for us. Thank You for loving us through our weaknesses, and for the reminder that You are going ahead of us, and when we turn back to You, we need to encourage our brothers and sisters. Help us not to get stuck in our bitter castigations when we mess up. You can’t use us if we’re stuck in pity and shame. Help us turn quickly back to You and to encourage each other on this journey. Draw us all closer. Amen.
Luke 22:32 … “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Have a blessed day. 

Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
This morning my Savior reminded me again of Martha–who thought she was focused on what was important, who was so convinced she was right that she demanded that the Savior of the world get her sister off her duff and command her to help. Poor, beleaguered Martha, who thought she was focused on the one important thing only to find that she had it all wrong. I feel like Jesus is gently tapping me on the shoulder, trying to alert me that I, too, am off course again.
1 Cor 1:29 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong….
And just like Martha, I find myself in a bit of an indignant tizzy. “Why is no one helping me?!? Why is no one cooperating?!? Clearly, I am the only one who understands how this needs to work, yet no one will get on board with what needs to be done!!!” And my precious Savior softly whispers, “Beloved, You are focusing on the wrong thing.”
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of what’s important. I deeply believe that You are present in every situation and circumstance. The fact that what I’m trying to do, trying to accomplish, keeps getting thwarted tells me that You have a different plan. Help me to focus on the one important thing–You. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Cor 1:31 …”Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Have a blessed day.

Luke 22:42 “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will but Yours be done.”
For me, this seems the ultimate human moment for Jesus. He knows the plan for redemption. He knows His role. He’s willing to sacrifice Himself for us, but His human nature asks, essentially, “Are You sure there isn’t some other way?” On the heels of the human thought, the divine quickly clicks back into place, “yet not My will but Yours be done.” Jesus understands. He truly understands our struggles.
Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!”
Oh the irony in this verse. Jesus knew full well He could not save both Himself and us. It’s not that He was not powerful enough or bold enough. He knew that the only way to save us was through the loving sacrifice of His death. We didn’t deserve and could never earn that kind of love, and we didn’t have to. It was freely given. Thank You, Jesus.
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that’s what we are!
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your fierce love of us. Thank You for Your obedience to Our heavenly Father for our sake. You gave Your life to save us. Help us to live our lives to glorify You. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 John 4:10 Real love isn’t our love for God, but His love for us. God sent His Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven.
Have a blessed day.

Luke 19:37 As He was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen….
As I read this praise-filled, joyful scene, my heart hurts for what I know is coming—betrayal, denial, and painful death at the hands of the very people who are praising God so passionately in this scripture. Jesus knows it is coming, too. He knows who will betray Him, who will deny Him, who will crucify Him. As much as my mind wants to focus on the horror of the betrayal, an even greater lesson resides in Christ’s actions and attitudes.
Luke 19:38 …saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace be in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
Peter is most likely among this crowd, praising just as loudly as the rest. Even when Christ tells him of his eventual denial, Peter is adamant that he will never deny Christ. But Jesus knows Peter’s denial is a step on his path, not the end of it. He doesn’t focus on the denial, He doesn’t castigate Peter for his grievous error. He focuses on what comes next.
Matt 26:32 “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your deep love. Thank You for loving us through our mistakes, denials, and grievous errors. Thank You for focusing on what comes next—using our stories, our scars, our lives to tell others of Your love and mercy. Help us to treat each other with the same compassion with which You treat us, especially when we make mistakes, especially when others make mistakes. Help us to shine Your light. Draw us closer. Amen.
Matt 26:39 …”Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry.
The God of my youth was clothed in flowing robs of white. A halo of golden light shown all around Him. He was benevolent and holy, and utterly unapproachable. I could worship Him, praise Him, admire Him, but I could not talk to Him. I could not show Him all my dirty, muddy, slimy emotions like fear, anger, and bitterness.
Psalm 40:2a He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire….
God is infinitely holy, and I don’t mean to imply otherwise, but part of maturing in my faith has been understanding that He doesn’t want just the best parts of me. He doesn’t want me to come to Him only in praise and adoration. He is big enough, loving enough, sovereign enough to want all of me—even the dirty, muddy, slimy emotions like fear, anger, and bitterness. He wants my whole heart. And it is only when I can be totally real and honest with Him that He can help me move forward in His will. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 40:2b He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for my maturing faith. Thank You for loving all of me, even the rough bits, and for wanting a rich and loving relationship with my whole heart. Thank You for lifting me out of the slimy pits of life, Lord, and for placing my feet, again and again, on Your solid ground. Help me to continue to grow and mature in my relationship with You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 40:4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD….
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 31:9 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.
A dear friend told me about the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with lacquer containing gold dust. According to one site I found, “This repair method celebrates each artifact’s unique history by emphasizing its fractures…instead of hiding or disguising then. Kintsugi often makes the repaired piece even more beautiful than the original, revitalizing it with new life.” I find this story to be a beautiful analogy of what Christ’s loving mercy does for us.
Psalm 31:12 …I have become like broken pottery.
I am a tender-hearted soul, and life has a way of making me feel utterly inadequate and broken, but I am learning, oh so slowly, to lean into my Savior always. No, I cannot handle life on my own, and I was not created to do so. I need Him, I need His people, to help me shoulder the burdens. It hurts to be broken. There is a painful sting when I let go so His golden love can be applied, but I always come out of it stronger. And my scars allow me to turn to those coming after me and share the hope of Him that shines so brightly through my brokenness. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 31:14 But I trust in You, LORD.
Lord, Thank You for this day and the reminder that You can and will create beauty from my ashes. Thank You that Your tender love and mercy are golden balm to my soul. Thank You that Your strength is perfected in my weakness. Help me to shine Your light as a beacon of hope for Your people. Amen.
2 Cor 12:9 …So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Have a blessed day. 

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness….
Precious friend, I know you are afraid. You cannot conceive of a way out of this wilderness surrounding you. Please remember that God knows you intimately. He loves you and yours more than you can fathom. He is already at work, even if you can’t yet perceive it. He’s making a way for you through this situation. Trust His love, dear one. Trust His goodness. Trust His mercy.
Isaiah 42:16a I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them….
Precious friend, If you are anything like me, you know how this situation “should” work out. But please be mindful of the fact that His thoughts and His ways are not like ours. He loves you infinitely. Trust that His way will reflect that love, even if you can’t understand it. 
Isaiah 42:16b …I will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth…
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your promise to always be with us, for making a way through this wilderness, even if we can’t yet perceive it. Thank You for the precious soul reading today’s reflection. Be with Your beloved child. Give this dear one strength, hope, and courage, regardless of the burdens being shouldered. Help us all to trust and not to fear. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
Isaiah 42:16c …These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Have a blessed day.