Rev 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other!
Our dog Joy is a mess. When she wants her belly scratched, she will get in the recliner beside you, sit on her haunches, and throw herself backward into your arms, exposing her belly for scratching. Ready or not, here she comes! There is nothing lukewarm about her actions. They declare, “Here I am! Love me!”
Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth.
God wants that kind of enthusiasm from us as well. He doesn’t want lukewarm Christians. He wants us to be bold in our actions for Him. He wants us to be radical in our love for His people, ALL His people, not just the ones society deems acceptable. Help me, Jesus!
Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that You do not want us to be lukewarm, which speaks of a lack of commitment. Help us not to rest in the comfort of our lives, our possessions, the trappings of this world. Help us to be on fire for You. Help us to be bold in Your name and to point others to Your fierce love of us all, to Your amazing grace and mercy. Draw us closer. Amen.
Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock….
Have a blessed day.
God’s ability to meet my needs…. (devo reflection)
Luke 18:1 And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought to always pray and not lose heart.
One of my daily devotionals this morning asked this pointed question: “Is it possible to fool yourself into believing that because you ask God for help, you have faith in His ability to meet your needs?” Ouch! Pardon me while I nurse my sore toes that were just stepped on. I do have faith in God’s ability to meet my needs, and yet the state of fear and anxiety in which I operate so often definitely indicates otherwise. This disconnect bothers me greatly. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
Eph 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up.
I’ve read this verse many times before, but today, the last sentence really struck me. When I pray, I must “always be ready.” Ready for what? God’s answer? To send up more prayers? Both? I’m not quite sure how to interpret that one. I must also “never give up.” I’m pretty sure I get that one. I must never give up that He WILL answer, though maybe not in the way that I had hoped or imagined. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!
Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for calling me out about my worry and anxiety. You know how deeply I love You, how desperately I want to follow Your will for my life. Help me to lay my worries and anxieties at Your feet and to leave them there. Help me to pray without ceasing and to trust You WILL answer because I know that You will. I KNOW that You will. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief! Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth.
Have a blessed day.
This period of waiting…. (devo reflection)
Eph 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity….
I don’t do waiting well. It feels terribly unproductive, though I know valuable things can come from a period of waiting. And I feel like God has currently called me and my family into a period of waiting. But I’m not really sure what I’m waiting for or on, and I’m not sure how I’ll know when the waiting is over. Jesus, Help me!
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord‘s will is.
I’ve joked for years that if God wants me to understand His will for me, He needs to send me flashing neon signs. I don’t do subtle well. And I want so much to follow His plan for my life, for my family to follow His will for our lives. Jesus, Help us!
Eph 5:20 …always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your love and provision. Help me to learn to be thankful for this period of waiting and to lean into You more deeply as I wait. Please help us as a family and as individuals to discern and follow Your will for us. Draw us closer. Amen.
Romans 11:36 For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen!
Have a blessed day.
My peace I give you…. (devo reflection)
John 14:27a Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you….
Jesus knew what we would have to endure in this world. He knew all the heartache, all the false friends, all the mistakes and missteps we would make. He wanted us not to lose ourselves, not to lose Him, in the midst of all the turmoil. So He gave us His peace, a peace that surpasses all human understanding. Thank You, Jesus.
John 14:27b …I do not give to you as the world gives….
But this gift of peace, of grace, of mercy, is so very different than anything we’ve experienced before. It is like nothing this world can or will offer. And I’m afraid that we often don’t quite know what to do with it. At least I know I’ve had that problem. But the older I get, the more I live, the more I study and listen and reflect, the more I feel the Holy Spirit nudging me towards God’s peace. It is not our human default. Help me, Jesus.
John 14:27c …Do not let your hearts be troubled….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the gift of Your peace. Thank You that You do not give as the world gives. Help me to understand, accept, and blanket myself in Your gift of peace, of grace, of mercy. Help me to remember this is not my home. Help me to shine Your light so that others can know you. Draw me closer. Amen.
John 14:27d …and do not be afraid.
Have a blessed day.
Where Your value and worth reside…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 8:4 …what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them?
I did not win any Mother of the Year awards yesterday, no Wife of the Century or Woman of the Decade awards. My vicious inner critic, who is always ready to spout vitriol when it comes to assessing my performance, has been poised and ready to strike as soon as I give her license. She would gleefully point out all of my missteps yesterday if given the chance.
Psalm 139:14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
But my precious Savior is whispering to my heart, even now, “You are My deeply loved child. That is where Your value and worth reside—not in WHO you are but in WHOSE you are. You are mine, and I love you.” Thank You, Jesus.
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, for Your fierce and unconditional love, for these verses that remind me Whose I am. Thank You that I am not who I was, even if I’m not yet who I want to be. Thank You for a new day, a fresh start, and the chance to try again, to try to do better, be better. Draw me closer. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Have a blessed day.
Not finished yet…. (devo reflection)
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
“Possible hairline fracture.” With those words, Hawkeye’s AT adventure, which was such an unexpected calling for our family, almost came to a crashing halt. Our trip to our GP gave us, “consistent with possible hairline fracture.” He couldn’t rule it out, but he wanted an orthopedic doc to confirm. Thankfully, the ortho said that while he understood why both docs said “possible,” that was not what he was seeing. He diagnosed a sprain, gave us a brace, and sent us on our way. Thank You, Jesus.
Mark 9:24 … “I believe; help my unbelief!”
My first reaction was to latch on the “possible.” Possible is not definite. I chose hope. After all, this entire adventure was a providential calling. Why would He curtail it now? The GP confirmation of “possible” was a blow. It’s not definitely broken, but it doesn’t look good. That sent me to anger. “Seriously, Lord? We’ve turned our whole lives upside down to make this AT journey happen and THIS is how it’s going to end?!?” That thought was followed quickly by “Somehow, even this is the center of Your kindness. This is NOT what I want, but THY will, not mine.” Help me, Jesus.
Matt 14:31 … “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your presence in our lives. Thank You that on the heels of worry, fear, and anger, You brought me quickly back to Yourself, to hope, to the knowledge that even when life doesn’t go the way I want, I am still in the center of Your kindness. Thank You that Hawkeye’s leg is not broken, that their journey is not over. Thank You for the courage to step out of the boat and Your reassurance when I start to sink. Thank You that I am a work in progress, Lord, and that You aren’t finished with me yet. Draw me closer. Amen.
Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous….”
Have a blessed day.
The ministry of restoring relationships…. (dev reflection)
2 Cor 5:18 God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with Him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships.
When I read this scripture this morning, the idea that God has given us a ministry of restoring relationships really struck me. I think that as Christians, we all understand that we are to tell others of God’s great love, but I think sometimes we overlook the value of restoring human relationships in order to help others see how God desires a restored relationship with us. I know my focus is on trying to shine His light as a beacon of His love. I don’t incorporate restoring relationships as a primary focus. Help me, Jesus.
2 Cor 5:19b …He didn’t hold people’s faults against them, and He has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others.
What might the ministry of restoring relationships look like in my own life? When I see someone who is grumpy or sullen, I try to open a conversation. “You look like you are having a tough day. Everything ok?” Sometimes they won’t open up, but I truly think it makes a difference that someone notices and cares enough to ask. Restoring relationships can even be as easy as asking “How are you today?” or “How’s your day?” and really caring about the answer. If I am open to the possibilities, I think there are myriad opportunities throughout my day to help restore relationships. Thank You, Jesus.
Eph 4:1 …I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for placing the ministry of restoring relationships in my path and for helping me see that it is within my ability to help do this. Help me to shine Your light always, Lord. Help me to point others to You in all that I say and do. Draw me closer. Amen.
Eph 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Have a blessed day.
Fully and gratefully present…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread….
Lord, You are so gracious and kind. You provide for us daily. Thank You for Your providence and provision. Forgive me that I am having difficulty staying in this present moment with You. Help me to fully trust with my heart and mind that You have got me right now and You will still have me in five minutes, five hours, five days. Help me not to worry about the “what if’s” and to remain fully and gratefully present in this moment.
Matt 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow….
Lord, I know You love us more than we can even wrap our heads around. I know that You are guiding us and guarding us. I know that You can use ALL things for our good and Your glory. Forgive me that even with all that understanding, I still get caught up in the worry and anxiety of what could be. Help me to stay firmly present in the blessings and provision of this moment Lord and not to borrow potential trouble that may not even come to pass.
Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the myriad ways You provide for us daily. Thank You for watching over us moment by moment. Help me to break these chains of worry and fear, to breathe deeply, to rest in Your strength, and to walk forward in complete trust. Remove the fear of what “could be,” and help me to stay present in Your love and provision, moment by moment. Draw me closer. Amen.
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus….
Have a blessed day.
Renewed hope and fresh mercies…. (devo reflection)
Lam 3:22a Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed….
My reading this morning brought me to Lamentations 3:22-26, and my soul immediately recognized the truth of this scripture. If you’ve known me for any length of time, you know I am an incredibly emotional being. I feel EVERYTHING deeply—joy, sorrow, anxiety, peace. There’s nothing halfway about my emotions. Therefore, when things get particularly emotional, the threat of being consumed by those emotions seems incredibly real. But because of the love of my precious Savior, I am not consumed by my emotions or by my circumstances or by anything else. Because of His fierce love, I am more than a conqueror. Thank You, Jesus.
Lam 3:22b-23a …for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning….
This verse put me solidly in mind of the idea of being in the center of God’s kindness. This is not my idea. I heard it in a podcast, but when I heard it, the truth of it struck me so deeply, that it continues to resonate. Those compassions that never fail? Those are the center of His kindness. That great love that keeps me from being consumed? That is the center of His kindness. Thank You, Jesus.
Lam 3:23b …great is Your faithfulness.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your fierce love, and for keeping me in the center of Your kindness. Always. Thank You for Your compassion, which never fails, and for renewed hope and fresh mercies every morning. Thank You for reminding me that You love me, You are here with me, You will never leave me. Thank You for the knowledge that I never walk alone, that I am in the very center of Your kindness. Help me to shine Your light as a beacon of hope for others. Draw me closer. Amen.
Lam 3:24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”
Have a blessed day.
Redirecting me from my anxious ways…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 127:1a Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.
This morning finds me plagued with a vague sense of anxiety, of unease, that if I’m brutally honest, is often present. I’d be hard-pressed to tell you specifically what I’m worried about, what I’m anxious about, but I know the feeling, and I know what is going on, even if I don’t know why.
Psalm 127:1b Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
My precious Savior does not want me to live a life riddled with anxiety. He sent me scripture this morning to remind me that if I am striving to live with Him, in Him, and for Him, I have absolutely no need to be anxious. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.
Lord, Thank You for once again redirecting me from my anxious ways. I know worry is not of You or from You. I know it does no good and does nothing to strengthen my faith, and yet I still struggle so with pervasive, futile worry. Help me to keep my eyes solely on You, Lord. Help me to lay all my burdens at Your feet. Cover my with Your amazing grace and transcendent peace. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you….
Have a blessed day.