Month: April 2019

Psalm 62:1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.
Precious friend reading this reflection, I know you are tired. Life seems to be piling up with one little thing after another. You are trying to keep it together, but you are mentally and physically exhausted. One more thing might send you over the edge. Our compassionate and loving Savior wanted me to remind you that you do not walk this path alone, no matter what your feelings try to tell you. He is with you. He is holding you in the palm of His hand. He’s not going anywhere. He loves you deeply. 
Psalm 62:2 Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Precious friend, Our merciful Savior wanted me to remind you that overwhelming victory is already yours through Him. He’s won eternal victory, and you are His beloved child and heir. In this world of appearances, it is so hard for us to understand the concept of overwhelming victory, so just cling to the fact that He loves you and yours more than you can even fathom. He is with you, fighting for you. He can and will use all of this for your good and His glory. 
Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your overwhelming victory, for Your fierce love. Thank You for the precious soul reading these words of encouragement right now. Help that sweet soul to feel Your loving presence, to trust Your eternal victory. Help that beloved soul to rest in You, to feel Your peace and love. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times…; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
Have a blessed day. 

1 John 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.
When I finally meet my Savior face to face, I want to have lived my life so that I am confident and unashamed in His presence. I want to love as He loved and serve as He served. I want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 
1 John 4:17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus.
In some situations, loving and serving others is incredibly easy. What I am to do is obvious. How I am to serve is apparent. My actions and efforts are appreciated. But God never promised us easy, and I know that often those who need His love the most are the least lovable and receptive. But it’s so hard when I feel like I’ve done everything I can to show them I care and want them to succeed and they are still metaphorically spitting in my face. Lord, What would thou have me to do? Help me, Jesus.
1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the hope I have in You. Thank You for placing me in a situation that forces me to listen to You more carefully, to rely on You more fully. I am at the end of my strength and skill, Lord, and I’m pretty sure that’s where You need me so that You can work through me. Help me to show them Your love and grace. Work through me. Draw me closer, Lord. Amen.
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
Have a blessed day.

Heb 10:22 …let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings….
As a child, I seem to remember hearing that we should not question God. It’s hard to know if this was what actually was said or just how I interpreted what I was told, but somehow, in my young mind, that translated into the idea that I had to hide my real feelings and emotions from Him and act like all was well even if I was struggling. Thankfully, my faith and my relationship with my Savior have both come a long way since then.
Heb 10:23 Let is hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
As an adult, I’m fully aware that God knows my heart. He knows not only what I say and do but also what’s on my mind. He loves me, ALL of me, and He wants me to be honest with Him about my feelings and fears. And I have found that when I drag those feelings and fears into His light, when I confess them and examine them through His love and mercy, only then am I able to move forward in Him, to become unstuck in my own mess and begin trusting His loving presence and provision. Thank You, Jesus.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this reminder that You created us, You know us intimately, You love us fiercely. Thank You for being big enough to handle our feelings, doubts, and fears, for being compassionate enough to want us to be real and honest with You. Always. Thank You that when we confess those feelings to You, You help us to deal with them so we can move past them and rest in Your peace and love. Draw us closer, Lord. Help us to shine Your light. Amen.
Heb 10:23b …for He who promised is faithful.
Have a blessed day.

John 10:10 …I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

One translation of this verse uses the word abundant to describe the life Christ came to give us. Abundant life. What a beautiful description. But I’ll be honest. I don’t know that I’ve ever spent any real time thinking about what abundant life in Christ might look like.

2 Timothy 1:14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

I’m confident abundant life has nothing to do with wealth or material possessions. I know enough about my Savior to know He holds no stock in such things. I’m confident it has nothing to do with financial stability or my retirement portfolio. Jesus wasn’t in the business of making sure people were comfortable. I’m confident it has everything to do with the radical message of His fierce, unconditional, all-encompassing, grace-filled love. He wants us to share the precious truth that His amazing love is for ALL, no matter our past, no matter our faults, no matter our unworthiness to earn or deserve His favor. His love, His grace, His mercy are gifts He freely gives ALL. Thank You, Jesus.

Eph 3:12 In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.

Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your radical message, for Your fierce love and Your unfathomable mercy. Thank You for coming for us, so that we may have abundant life, so that we may spread the beautiful news of Your love and Your grace. Help us to freely share Your precious truth with ALL. Help us to shine Your light. Draw us closer. Amen.

Heb 10:35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord….

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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

Sometimes it’s hard to be devoted to others in love. When they don’t seem to care and you feel like you’ve done everything in your power to try to reach them, it can make you think about just giving up. That pretty perfectly describes my afternoon yesterday. Their seeming apathy, coupled with my exhausted frustration, had me wondering if there was any reason to keep trying to reach them.

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

In the brief time between my total frustration and the final bell, I was mentally crying out to Jesus: “What do You want me to do? I’ve tried everything, Lord. They don’t care that I care. They don’t care at all. And I am so tired. Help me, Jesus.” Before the bell, I sent an email asking a sweet friend for prayers. As soon as the bell sounded and the kids were gone, I found another dear friend had sent me Isaiah 46:4. Thank You, Jesus, for sustaining me.

Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for the vivid reminder that my help, my strength, my sustenance comes from You. Thank You, when I thought I was at the end of my reserves, for reminding me that Your power is perfected in my weakness. Thank You for this group, which keeps me on my toes and keeps me coming back to You. Help me to uplift and encourage them. Help me shine Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

Matt 25:23 … “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Today’s Upper Room devotional was entitled “Finishing Well,” and the  title itself captured me immediately. We are finishing things all the time—a task, a day, a goal. In education, we finish 9 weeks, semesters, careers. I was just talking to my seniors yesterday about remembering why they have persevered this long so they could finish strong after Spring Break.
Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal….
For me, there is so much involved in finishing well, finishing strong. Remembering why I’m doing what I’m doing is certainly important. Tapping into my support system for encouragement is definitely vital. But the crucial element for me is remembering whose I am and why I’m here. My life is not my own. My Savior has a plan for me, things I am uniquely suited to do, people I am uniquely suited to reach. Remembering that fact allows me, in the midst of frustration and despair to say, “Lord, I feel like an utter failure, like everything I’ve tried to do has failed, but I know You have a purpose for me in this situation. Help me fulfill Your purpose, Lord. Use me to accomplish Your will even if I don’t understand.” Thank You, Jesus.
Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your unique purpose for each of us. Help us, even when we are exhausted, frustrated, afraid, to finish well, to finish strong, the work You have given us to do. Draw us closer, Lord. Renew our strength. Amen.
Heb 12:1 …And let us run with endurance the race God had set before us.
Have a blessed day. 

Romans 8:35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity….?
When I look back over the events of my life, my faith has grown the most during difficulties. When things are going well, it is easy for me to shout His praises because I am so truly thankful for His provision, but times of difficulty, where I have no control, when I don’t know how things will work out, those are the times when He works with me on trusting and obeying.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you….
I have noticed during this season of “trail life” that He is working on me in the area of being on the receiving end of other people’s kindness. I’m usually the one helping, not the one needing helped, and apparently, I have a rather large stubborn streak, and I certainly “don’t want to bother anyone” with our needs or problems. Folks have their own families. They don’t need to be worried about us. Jesus, Help me.
Isaiah 43:5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your presence and provision. Thank You that I have found myself so often being able to give help and blessings to others through my actions in Your name. In this season of “trail life,” help us to be as independent as possible while still being grateful for and gracious about the help that we receive. It’s hard to need help, Lord, but sometimes we all do. And there are lessons in faith to be learned on the receiving end of help, too. Thank You for the caring, supportive people You have placed in our lives. We are so grateful. Draw us all closer. Amen.
Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us.
Have a blessed day.

Acts 20:32 ”Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance….”
I have always been pretty hard on myself. Things that I would forgive easily in other people, I would often beat myself up for for days. I’m learning, slowly, to cut myself some slack, to give myself grace. It is a slow, at times painful, process. But growing in grace is always worth the effort.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever!
Anne Lamott once said, “The movement of grace is what changes us, heals us and heals our world.” The movement of grace, growing in grace, is such beautiful imagery. Grace is alive, active. It can grow and move, seeping into the corners, nooks, and crannies, wiping away the dirt, dusting off the cobwebs, breathing God’s life, peace, and healing into spaces long given up as habitable. Grace brings hope, healing, and forgiveness. Thank You, Jesus.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your abundant and amazing grace. Thank You for the knowledge and healing available through Your grace and for the fact that Your grace is active and alive. Help me to extend Your grace to all those I encounter today, Lord, especially myself. Help me to stay rooted in You so I can bear much fruit. Amen.
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Have a blessed day.

John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled….”
As I read John 14 this morning, I was reminded of when my boys were little and we left them in the care of someone else (grandparents, a sitter, daycare, etc). We would tell them how much we loved them, that we would be back shortly, that they knew how to behave and be kind and helpful in our absence. The “pep talk” was to ease any concerns and fears, remind them we loved them deeply and would be back soon, and remind them that they knew how to act. This seems to me to be what Jesus is doing in this passage.
John 14:5 “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
And just like my children would sometimes have a million questions, some quite silly, others serious, about “what if’s“ in our absence, many prompted by the fear of separation, the disciples are full of questions as well. But Jesus begins and ends this chapter telling them not to worry. He knows there are concerns. He knows there will be missteps and mistakes made, but He is reminding them that He loves them, that He will come back for them, that they know how to act in His absence. Thank You, Jesus.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this message. Thank You for the reminder that You love us deeply, that Your steadfast presence is with us no matter what, that we know how to act in Your absence and we do not need to be afraid because You are with us always. Draw us closer. Amen.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”
Have a blessed day. 

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Literally from the moment my feet hit the floor this morning, this day has not gone as planned. A “series of unfortunate events” from the start seemed to indicate it was going to be a less than stellar day. Furthermore, God usually nudges me as I am reading and studying so that by the time I get to writing my reflection, I already know where He wants me to go with it. Not today. That’s just great. “Where do You want me to go today, Lord? On a morning that has started as this one has, where everything seems to be going downhill, what message do You want me to deliver?” His response? “Rejoice in ME. Always.” Thank You, Jesus.
Luke 10:20 …rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Life is not always good. This morning’s annoyances aren’t earth shattering. They are just obnoxious. But life can knock you flat at times. The chaos and confusion of this world can be deafening, terrifying, maddening. But my hope is not in this world. And this world is not my home. And the chaos of this world will only affect me to the degree that I allow it because my God has already conquered this world. Therefore, I am more than a conqueror. Thank You, Jesus.
Eph 2:8 God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this message of hope and rejoicing, for refocusing me when I allow myself to get distracted by my circumstances. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and love and for the fact that You have overcome this world. Thank You for so very many reasons to rejoice, even when my circumstances try to overwhelm me. Help me to always rejoice in You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Have a blessed day