Month: May 2019

2 Chron 34:27a Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God….
As human beings, we often seek recognition for our accomplishments. I sincerely believe that for many, the need for recognition has more to do with the desire to know that we aren’t toiling in vain, that others see us and recognize our hard work and effort. However, the desire for recognition can easily turn into something much more sinister—pride and arrogance—which definitely leads to trouble.
2 Chron 34:27b …and because you humbled yourself before Me….
For me, humbling myself before the LORD is about viewing my life as a partnership with Him. Every good and perfect gift is from Him. Every success is through Him. Every trial can be endured because of Him. By no means am I perfect in this attitude, but I am trying to root myself in it daily. God is my center. I am in the center of His kindness. I will exalt His holy name. Always.
Luke 1:46-47 …My soul magnifies the LORD, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the understanding that You and I walk through this life together, hand in hand. Help me, always, to humble myself and exalt You. Help me never to lose sight of the fact that You are my center. Always. Work in me and through me, and help me to shine Your light for all to see. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Have a blessed day.

Eph 1:17 [I keep] asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you may grow in your knowledge of God.
Lord, I pray that you will bless us with spiritual wisdom and insight, that our knowledge and understanding of You, of Your will, Your ways, Your mercy and grace may grow. Give us wisdom and discernment as we go throughout our day, so that we might understand how to make choices that bring us more fully into Your will. Give us a heart to seek You, daily, hourly, moment by moment.
Eph 1:18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called….
Lord, Surround us with Your light, Your hope. Help us to sit with each other in the darkness of life, reminding each other we are not alone, pointing each other to You, Your love, Your hope, Your light. Help us never to lose sight of how powerfully Your light shines, especially in the darkness. Help us to be flooded with Your light, with Your confident hope, regardless of our circumstances.
Eph 1:19a I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in Him. 
Lord, Thank You for this day and this reminder that You are with us. Thank You that no matter how weak we feel, Your incredible power lives in us, works through us. Help us to tap into Your Spirit, Your power as we point others to You. Draw us closer, Lord, as we walk each other home (R.Dass). Amen.
Eph 1:19b-20 …This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.”
So often when those I care about are hurting or struggling, it is so difficult for me to know how to encourage them. Often, the suffering of life makes no sense to me. Why did this particular thing happen to this particular person in this way at this time? I sincerely believe that by the time I have these answers, the questions will have lost their urgency. However, I firmly believe in all situations that God is holding us securely in the palm of His hand, He is with us, He is fighting for us. That is what I want to communicate to those who are struggling.
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him….
Earlier this week I talked about the phrase I heard during a podcast that resonated so deeply: “I am in the center of God’s kindness.” I believe this statement to be true, even when it feels like everything is falling down around me. God is faithful, steadfast, and loving. He would not leave me, especially during times of trial. He would not leave you, either. For me, this deep and sure belief, this knowledge that He is holding me securely, always, is the center of His kindness.
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You are with us always, holding us, guiding us, fighting for us—even when we can’t feel it, even when it’s hard to believe it. Thank You for being steadfast and true and for keeping me in the center of Your kindness. Thank You for the assurance that no matter the trial or triumph, You are with us, holding us securely. Draw us closer. Help us to encourage each other. Amen.
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
Have a blessed day.

2 Chron 15:2b …The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you….
I know that I will find what I seek in life. If I look for blessings, little signs that God is with me, I will find them everywhere. Conversely, if I get caught in a cycle of negativity, I will find something to grouch about around every corner. I feel God calling me this morning to actively seek renewal through Him as I go throughout my day. Jesus knows how desperately I need renewal.
2 Chron 15:15b …They sought God eagerly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
I know that focusing on the positive is as easy as asking myself, “Where do I see evidence of God’s care, concern, and provision in my life?” But I’ve never thought of renewal as something I can do here, smack in the middle of my daily life. Renewal seems something I have to go away to find. But with today’s scripture, my precious Savior seems very clearly to be telling me that if I seek Him in the middle of everyday life, I will find Him, and He will give me rest. Help me, Jesus.
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this idea that if I seek You, if I seek opportunities for renewal through You in my daily activities, that You will give me rest. Help me to be mindful of opportunities to rest and renew in You and through You as I go throughout my day. Help me to sink my roots so deeply into You that even in the deepest drought, Your love and grace sustain me. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart I seek you….
Have a blessed day.

Rev 21:6 “…To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”
When I was in sixth grade, I won a storytelling contest by reciting James Patrick Kinney’s poem “The Cold Within.” It is about six people, each with a stick of firewood, trapped in bitter cold. Had they all put their wood together, they could have nurtured a blazing fire and saved themselves and each other. But because of one thing and another—skin color, religious affiliations, money or lack there of, spite—each person kept his wood, died with it clutched in his hand. 
John 15:12 “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
Jesus loved people, and He wanted them to know a love and acceptance that transcends human understanding. He often associated with the lowest because He knew that they were hungry enough, thirsty enough to be open to His Father’s deep and abiding love. He never considered what was in it for Him but only how He could help others understand His Father’s eternal love.
Luke 10:27 … “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this lesson. I am guilty at times of holding back from others who are different from me, who scare me, but You want everyone to know Your great love. Help me to love others as You love me, Lord, deeply, fiercely, completely, holding nothing back and seeking to gain nothing save drawing others closer to You. Help me to show Your love to all, Lord. Amen.
Col 3:14 Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds is all together in perfect harmony.
Have a blessed day.

John 13:1b …having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
The idea that I am in the center of God’s kindness (see yesterday’s reflection) is still resonating with me, rattling around in my mind. And then today, my precious Savior brings me to this poignant scene of love and kindness. At this point, Jesus knew that not only would Judas betray Him but that all of His disciples would deny Him at the end. He KNEW it. 
John 13:2-3a During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot…to betray Him, Jesus, knowing….
Jesus could have washed His hands of the whole lot of them and simply walked away, but He knew the importance, the magnitude of what He was being called to do, so instead of washing His hands of this crowd of cowardly traitors, He loves them to the end and shows them His love by serving them through washing their feet—a dirty, lowly job. THAT’s the center of God’s kindness.
John 13:3b-4 …that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your compassionate act of service. The magnitude of Your love and kindness is truly difficult for me to grasp at times, Lord. I can be so quick to judge, so quick to turn my back on someone whom I feel has wronged or betrayed me. I feel like You are calling me instead to service that helps others, all others, see the center of Your kindness in their lives. Help me to understand what this call means, Lord. Use me in Your service. Draw me closer. Amen.
John 13:7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Have a blessed day.

1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect…..
I was listening to a podcast yesterday and came across a statement that has given me great pause: “I am always in the center of God’s kindness.” When life is going well, I can so easily identify with and live this statement. When life is good, I can see His kindness everywhere.
1 Tim 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.
But when times are tough, my immediate response is to pull back. My heartache is God’s kindness? My pain is God’s kindness? In no way. But I cling to the fact that even in difficult times, God is holding me in the palm of His hand. THAT’S His kindness. Even on my darkest days, He is drawing me closer to Him, remaking me more in His imagine. THAT’S His kindness. When I am at my weakest, His people step in to be His hands and feet in my life. THAT’S God’s kindness. Thank You, Jesus.
Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for putting the idea that we are always in the center of Your kindness in my path. Thank You for the clarity with which I cling to You and Your promises. Thank You for wanting all of me, for loving all of me. Thank You for Your incomprehensible love and kindness, which surpasses all understanding. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 18:36 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
Lord, Life can feel so hard sometimes. Thank You for caring about all things—both big and small—like my path and my ankles, the weight I carry on my back, my burdens. Thank You for knowing where I am, both mentally and physically, for sending me light and hope and grace as I travel on sometimes rocky and difficult paths. 
Proverbs 4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
Lord, Thank You that even in the midst of trials You are with me. Thank You for being steadfast and true, even when I question and doubt. Thank You for drawing me closer to You through all circumstances, especially through the dark and frightening ones. Thank You for the complete trust I have in Your love and care.
Psalm 66:9 Our lives are in His hands, and He keeps our feet from slipping.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the many ways I see You working in my life. Thank You for taking the ashes, the pain, the ugliness of this life and transforming them into beauty through Your love and grace. Thank You for Your steadfast presence and for our ability to draw closer to You and to encourage each other on life’s path. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Psalm 121:3 He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber.
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him….
God still has me in a space of waiting. It is incredibly frustrating, primarily because I have no idea what I’m waiting FOR or how I’ll know when it happens. Perhaps that’s part of His point. Since my children were born, I have been in uber-planner mode. I try to be prepared for any contingency. I try to have everything we could possibly need. I try to smooth all the bumps in the road. I thought that was what it meant to be a good mom. It wasn’t until the last few years that I realized that I was trying to do things that weren’t mine to do, work through struggles that weren’t mine to work through, conquer mountains that weren’t mine to climb. Jesus, Help me.
2 Thess 3:5 May the LORD direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
One of my devos this morning talked about the dangers of being activity-centered in our Christian life as opposed to being God-centered. I don’t know if that’s the lesson He needs me to learn here, but I do know that I have a propensity for doing. Waiting is hard. It feels unproductive and useless. I can’t plan for it, and I’m definitely feeling at loose ends. But if this waiting-space draws me closer to my precious Savior, if it puts me in His presence and His will, that’s definitely where I want to be. Jesus, Help me.
Psalm 62:5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this space of waiting. As hard as it is for me to be in this space, I know without a doubt that You have brought me here, that You have a reason and a plan, that You can use this time and this space for my good and Your glory, no matter how uncomfortable it currently feels. Help me to be still in Your presence, Lord. Help me to hear, to understand, and to obey Your direction. Blanket me with Your peace during this time. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 46:10 … “Be still, and know that I am God….”
Have a blessed day.

Matt 26:31 Jesus said to His disciples, “During this very night, all of you will reject Me….”
In the realm of “big deals,” this conversation seems pretty huge to me. Jesus hand-picked the 12 disciples. He spent time with them, taught them, counseled them, at times refereed them. I’m sure He heaved more than one sigh when they *still* struggled to grasp His point. But this betrayal is huge. Jesus knows He is headed to His death to fulfill the will of His Father. He also knows that every single disciple, whom He loves and has invested time in, will reject Him before the night is out. He knows, and He wants them to know.
Matt 26:32 “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Do you see the amazing grace lavished on His beloved disciples? I am awed and humbled by the love behind those words. They deserved a Holy dressing-down, “How dare you betray Me after the time and effort I put into you?!? You are dead to me!!!” But Jesus reacts with compassion. My paraphrase of this convo goes something like “You will reject me tonight. And that rejection will end up eating away at you. But don’t live in that mistake. Don’t get stuck there. Move beyond it, and meet Me in Galilee. I still have work for you to do. I’ll be waiting for you.” Thank You, Jesus.
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 this day and for Your fierce love and unfathomable grace. You know I’m going to mess up, Lord. Thank You for reminding me that You can still use me, even when I think I’ve strayed too far. Thank You for allowing me, even with all my struggles and failures, to encourage and strengthen my brothers and sisters on life’s journey. Thank You for forgiving me, for loving me, and for reminding me not to get stuck in my own failures. Thank You for being able to use me, Lord, and for reminding me to keep looking to You, no matter what. Draw me closer. Amen.
Romans 5:8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Have a blessed day.