Month: May 2019

Ezekiel 11:19a I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them….
Lord, You are our center, our rock, our refuge. You hold us securely in the palm of Your hand. Even when we can’t feel Your steadfast presence, You are with us. This world tries to divide us, knock us down, tear us apart, but You are our center, Lord. Hold us together. Give us an undivided heart. Renew our spirit. 
Ezekiel 11:19b …I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Lord, It is so easy to allow our hearts to form calluses. We feel like toughening up is the right reaction to the chaos of the world, but we don’t realize that continual calluses can harden our hearts to the point that we are stony, cynical, and utterly useless to You. Help us, Lord. Remove our hearts of stone. Restore to us hearts brimming with love for You and for Your people.
Ezekiel 11:20b …They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You are with us, that You are holding us, that You are renewing our hearts and spirits. Lord, this world can take a toll. Sometimes we feel like we are giving it all we have and it’s still not making a difference. Thank You for understanding where we are and what we need. Thank You for holding us together and for filling our hearts with Your love and Your peace. Help us to love You fiercely and to love Your people unconditionally. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Have a blessed day.

Micah 7:7a But as for me, I will look to the LORD….
You would think, at my age, I’ve already become whatever it is that God wants me to be. But I am beginning to realize that life is a continual process of becoming, of renewing, of refining. This idea fills me at once with a sense of great hope and possibility and a vague feeling of dread. The sense of hope and possibility come from my precious Savior and how He might use me in, through, and after this process of becoming. The dread is my stubborn, static humanity, which doesn’t like change and is very comfortable right where I am, thank you very much.
Micah 7:7b …I will wait for the God of my salvation….
The process of becoming is messy, chaotic, painful. Ground must be plowed. Boundaries and barriers must be broken through. Tender new growth must tentatively push toward the light in hopes it will be nourished and nurtured properly. Sometimes pruning must happen, cutting back strategically so that new growth can take place. This process of becoming is not for the faint of heart and requires the utmost confidence in the One who is in control.
Micah 7:7c …my God will hear me.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that our lives are a continual journey to becoming who You designed us to be. Help us not become stagnant, Lord. Help us not to succumb to the fear of change and the unknown it brings. Help us to hold tightly to You, Lord, and to know that You can, will, and do bring beauty from our ashes, from our brokenness. You bring growth and renewal in You. Help us to support, uplift, and encourage each other through this process of becoming, Lord. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
John 10:10 …I have come so that they may have life, and have it in full.
Have a blessed day. 

Romans 15:13a May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace….
My youngest had a field trip yesterday that required me to take him to school by 6:45 am, which is a change in our morning routine. As we were in transit, we discussed what a beautiful morning it was. And as I rounded a bend in the road, we were unexpectedly blessed with the most gorgeous sunrise. 
Romans 15:13b …as you trust in Him….
It was still early enough that the ephemeral mist was softening the edges of the earth. The sun was just cresting the mountains, filling the sky with warm, golden light. It was breathtakingly beautiful, this little tableau on the way to school. It was available to everyone, whether we paid attention to it or not. And seeing it filled me with awe, peace, and wonder at the power, love, and majesty of my Creator. 
Romans 15:13c …so that you may overflow with hope….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the glorious sunrise yesterday that still fills me with wonder and peace. This is Your grace, Lord, unexpected, undeserved, a gift, freely given, there for the taking, but we must be open to receiving it. Lord, You know I’m still struggling, and I know that You are still with me. Draw me closer. Renew my spirit. Continue to fill me with wonder and hope as I experience Your unexpected grace in my life. Amen.
Romans 15:13d …by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Have a blessed day.

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit….
Lord, Thank You for choosing me, for loving me fiercely, even though I have done and can do nothing to earn or be worthy of Your love. It absolutely boggles my mind that Your love, Your grace, Your mercy are mine for the taking. They are Your gifts to me, to all Your beloved children. Forgive me when I do not act in a manner befitting the child of a King. Help me not to forget who I am and Whose I am.
1 John 4:10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His Son….
Lord, Thank You for loving us deeply, fiercely, and unconditionally. Thank You for sending Your Son so that we could be restored to You. Thank You for forgiving us when we fail to live in a manner befitting such an amazing sacrifice. Your love for us is like nothing we have ever experienced before, Lord. Sometimes it’s a bit hard to take in because the love of this world is so full of conditions and exceptions. Give us the grace to gratefully accept Your gift of love.
Exodus 19:4 You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of Your fierce and steadfast love. Thank You for daily bringing me back to Yourself. Help me to sit at Your feet each morning, Lord, to soak up Your love, to absorb Your peace into my bones, my very marrow. Help me to become so acquainted with Your thoughts and Your ways that they become my own. Help me to love others as You love me—deeply, fiercely, unconditionally. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
I have the reminder to “Choose Joy” everywhere in my life. I’ve got a t-shirt, posters, candles, painted signs. Truly, I can’t look far without seeing that precious reminder. And yet, for the past week and a half almost, I’ve been struggling mightily, and most days, I’ve been choosing grumpiness, annoyance, and sadness instead of joy. Jesus, Help me.
1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances….
I have maintained for quite a while that I will find what I look for in my life, so if I choose joy, look for joy, and celebrate the joy in my life, I will continue to find things about which to be joyful. And if I choose grumpiness, annoyance, and sadness, I will continue to find things in my life to inspire those emotions. Jesus, Help me.
Col 1:11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that choosing to root myself in Your love and Your light is a daily choice I get to make. Help me, even when I’m tired, grumpy, fed up, or sad, to look toward You instead of getting bogged down in my mess. Help me to feel the strength of Your glorious power, Lord. Help me, always, to choose, focus on, and celebrate Your joy in my life. Draw me closer, Lord. Amen.
1 Tim 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me….
Have a blessed day.

Mark 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out saying, “Jesus…have mercy on me!”
Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus in His distress. He did not allow himself to be silenced by the crowd that was definitely trying to silence him. Their attempts to silence him suggests the crowd did not see him as worthy of Christ’s attention. But Bartimaeus knew Jesus could heal him, so he “cried out all the more….” in his distress. He knew where ultimate healing could be found.
Mark 10:48 And many rebuked Him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more….
Yesterday morning at church I was pondering these things, specifically the fact that in his quest for healing, Bartimaeus would not be deterred from crying out to our Savior. I find inspiration, light, and hope in his perseverance for Christ. Christ can use us in this way as well—as an example of what to do when it feels like your world is falling apart. If we cling to Jesus, doggedly and ceaselessly call out to Him in our distress, He can use that to show others an example of faith even in the midst of suffering.
Mark 10:49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call to Him.” And they called to the blind man, saying… “Take heart. Get up; He is calling you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Bartimaeus’s example of faith. He knew that You were near and that You could heal him, and he would not be silenced. He persisted in calling out to You. Help us, Lord, when we feel we have nothing to offer because of life’s trials, to persist in seeking You, in calling out to You. Use our perseverance in seeking You as encouragement to others who are struggling. Draw us closer. Amen.
Mark 10:50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
Have a blessed day.

Mark 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out saying, “Jesus…have mercy on me!”
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar, but he believed in Jesus—His strength, His power, His love for His children. He believed so strongly that even though he was nothing but a blind beggar, even though he had nothing to offer Jesus but his faith in Him, even though those around him were rebuking him and telling him to be quiet, even though every standard of measure said Bartimaeus was not worthy, he knew his worth in Jesus. He cried out in faith, and Jesus heard him.
Mark 10:48 And many rebuked Him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more….
One of my devotions this morning talked of an accuser, the devil, who every moment of every day tries to convince God that we are not worthy of His love. When I have weeks like this past one, weeks where the exhaustion and overwhelm are so strong, I feel like the devil switches tactics. Instead of trying to convince God that I’m not worthy, a task where he knows he will never be successful, he starts whispering to me about my unworthiness. Jesus, give me the strength to keep reaching for you, despite the noise of this world.
Mark 10:49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call to him.” And they called to the blind man, saying… “Take heart. Get up; He is calling you.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your fierce love and unconditional mercy. I am not worthy, Lord. I can never earn Your favor, but You lavish me with Your grace simply because I am Your beloved child. That truth is hard to wrap my head around, Lord, but help me always to feel it deep within my soul. Help me, like Bartimaeus, to keep calling out to You in faith, Lord. I know You love me. I know You hear me. I know You can heal me. Help me, Lord, to keep crying out to You, to keep shining Your light, to keep telling others of Your great love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Mark 10:50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
Have a blessed day.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Throughout my life, I have struggled with periods that I called “blue funks,” times where nothing specific is wrong, yet everything feels wrong. My default during those times is always to “Count my blessings, name them one by one.” I mentally name all the blessings I can think of: breath in my lungs, a roof over my head, family who loves me, friends who care, my precious Savior.
Deut 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you….
Even now, I sometimes struggle with “blue funks,” this past week being a prime example. They seem to happen more often when I try to relax. Relaxing seems lazy somehow. Being productive is what makes me useful and valuable to those around me. But my precious Savior is whispering to my heart, “I don’t need anything from you but your presence. I created you. I love you. And I want you to know the depth and breadth of My love, but you can only experience that by spending time with Me.” Jesus, Help me to focus on relationship with You instead of activity for the world.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your fierce love, for pursuing me relentlessly, for desiring that I spend time in Your presence, that I take time to know You better. Help me to understand that activity is useful only as it draws me closer to You. Help me to get better at being still in Your presence. Help me to praise You, always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for You….
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 30:2 Lord my God, I called to You for help, and You healed me.
It has been a week. I’m still struggling with the grumpy-whiny-s, which I despise. I’m still struggling with exhaustion—not “I’m getting sick” exhaustion or “I have a chronic condition” exhaustion, but just garden variety “I’m tired of being tired” exhaustion. Lord, I don’t like feeling this way, and I think that when I get this way, I’m not as effective for You, but here is where I am and here is where You can use me if I let You, so, please, Jesus, take the whiny, imperfect mess that I am and use all of me to shine for You.
Psalm 30:5b …weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
I need to show myself the grace that my precious Savior so compassionately lavishes on me. I’m just in a slump, a low place. I do not like it. I do not intend to stay here. But here is where I currently am, and I know my Savior is right beside me, holding me in the palm of His hand, loving me as completely and fiercely as always. I am ok, I will be ok, because He is still my precious Savior and I am still His beloved child. Thank You, Jesus. Help me continue to praise You with my whole heart.
Psalm 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your grace and mercy, for the understanding that I need to be more compassionate with myself, especially when I struggle. Thank You for Your presence, for Your encouragement, for Your steadfast love. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to use me regardless of my circumstances. Thank You for joy and peace that can only come from You. Draw me closer. Help me always to shine Your light. Amen.
Psalm 30:12 …that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise You forever.
Have a blessed day.

Exodus 4:1 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me….?”
It would be easy to spout off a looong list of weaknesses and failings in my life that should disqualify me from use by God. There are so very, very, very many reasons that He should not use me, that I am not a good choice. But our precious Savior understands that perfection is not a requirement for effective use. It is possible that those who allow themselves to be used by Him despite all the reasons why that seems an illogical choice are even more effective than those who feel perfectly capable of doing God’s will. I know that anything good that ever comes from my words is to His credit, not mine.
Exodus 4:10 Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon Your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent…. I am slow if speech and tongue.”
Allowing yourself to be used by God can be as simple as daily sharing your weaknesses and missteps and how your precious Savior is present in the midst of it all. Every morning I expose my soft underbelly, highlighting my shortcomings and failures, so that I can show how my amazing Savior is present and sovereign and loving in my life. I am completely unqualified to be used by Him, and yet I know He uses me to give others hope in the midst of life’s chaos, to point others to His love and grace. Thank You, Jesus.
Exodus 6:30 But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You don’t need us to be prefect to use us in Your service. You just need us to be willing to be used, to put ourselves out there for You. Give all those reading this reflection hope and courage, Lord. Help us, daily, to share with each other how we see You working in our lives, despite our human weaknesses. Allow us to be bold for You. Help us to shine Your light. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Cor 12:9 … “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” …
Have a blessed day.