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One in heart and mind…. (devo reflection)

Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

One of the things that strikes me in today’s verses is the unity and positivity: “one in heart and mind,” “shared everything,” “filled with awe,” “together with glad and sincere hearts,” “praising God.” It’s entirely too cynical of me, but as much as I love the descriptions, I’m thinking, “Yeah. Right.” It often feels like we, as human beings, have gone too far down the path of turmoil to have this kind of unity.

Acts 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

I am the only person I can control. I can love God and love others. I can aim for being “one in heart and mind” with Christ, “sharing everything”–ok, it might be more realistic to say sharing things with a generous heart, which is sometimes hard for me, “filled with awe” at the way I see God at work in the world and in me, “together with glad and sincere hearts”–approaching all tasks with an earnest desire to love God and love others, “praising God”–always, always praising God.

Acts 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…

Lord, It is easy for me to feel overwhelmed at the enormity of trying to fix all the problems, all the darkness I see in the world. Thank You for helping me to see today that You aren’t calling me to fix everything. You only want me to be a light to others where I am. You only want me to put good into the world in my little corner. If all of us focus on putting good into our little corner, Your light will shine in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome it (John 1:5). Amen.

Acts 2:47 …praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Have a blessed day.

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God created us for community…. (devo reflection)

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

God created us for community, for relationship. I know for me, personally, I cannot thrive in isolation, which is ironic, considering I am not a huge people person. People exhaust me. But I know what it feels like to feel “other than,” which is why I try to let others know that I see them, I see Christ in them–their value and worth as a human because they are His.

Ecclesiastes 4:10a If either of them falls down, one can help the other up….

God made me an encourager, but spring is a tough time for me for a host of reasons. However, I am finding that the one sure way I can connect with Christ’s peace, even now, is by encouraging others. Sometimes it is with a kind word. Sometimes it is just by sharing my own struggles so that others know they are not alone in theirs. I have found that if I allow Him, God can use me, always, to encourage others, and He will bless me in the process.

Ecclesiastes 4:10b …But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

Lord, Thank you for this deep need to encourage Your people. Thank You that You can use my struggles to buoy others, that I know without a doubt that any good that comes from me is because of You, and that I know when I get past myself to encourage Your people, You will always bless me in return. Thank You for this need for community–even though people are hard for me–and for the connection and relationship with others that always brings me closer to You. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 4:12b …A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Have a blessed day.

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Receiving encouragement and support…. (devo reflection)

2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 

We all have our struggles and burdens…days, weeks, months that are just hard. This morning has me thinking about how God uses other people in our lives–to show His love, grace, compassion, encouragement. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up….” I think community, coming together to support and uplift each other, is an important part of God’s kingdom on earth.

2 Corinthians 12:9a But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

I appreciate my ability to be self-sufficient, to take care of myself and others, to get things done. But even I need people, and for someone who is used to DOING, it is hard to sit back and receive encouragement and support. But I think that’s part of what Paul is talking about here–my weakness means I’m not completely self-sufficient. God’s grace means I’m not meant to be. As a believer in Christ, *I* am part of His power on earth for others. And *I* am also in need of that support.

2 Corinthians 12:9b …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Lord, No one likes the idea of being weak, but in You, the ability to admit that I cannot do life alone, that I need other believers–so that I can uplift and encourage them and so that they can uplift and encourage me–that ability, that admission, is a strength because it frees me from the need to try to shoulder the world alone. Thank You, not only for the people that I get to love, pray for, and encourage, but for the people who love, pray for, and encourage me as well. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Have a blessed day.

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Strong roots in good soil…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

I am not a gardener, my thumbs are more brown than green, and yet, the image that comes to mind when I read the verses above is that of a plant. For a plant to thrive, it needs strong roots in good soil. My faith is equivalent to the roots of a plant. Jesus is my soil. Time, prayer, praise, trials–they all lead my faith roots to grow longer, stronger, deeper within the soil of Christ.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

“Overflowing with thankfulness” makes me think of blooms on a plant–the joy, the thankfulness,–overflowing, bursting from the inside out, sometimes a riot of color, sometimes a quiet little pop of joy, always a beautiful miracle, always a blessing.

Colossians 2:13-14 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

Lord, Some days are just hard. Help me remember, even on the hard days, that I am rooted and built up in You, that I am strengthened in faith. Help me to always overflow with thankfulness–not because of my circumstances but because of Your great love, mercy, and compassion. I am not worthy, but I am so very thankful. Amen.

Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Have a blessed day.

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Christ is my peace…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…

I worry about so many things–strained relationships, forgetting important dates, the health and well being of those I love and care for, attitudes that I may or may not encounter. I’ve been a worrier all my life but everything seems so much more imposing at present. It’s exhausting. Ironically, the only time I don’t feel drowned in worry is when I am encouraging others.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

For some reason, even though I am too consumed with my own worries to make room for the peace of Jesus, when I am reminding someone who is struggling of His love, His mercy, His peace, I am able to feel it, at least for a minute. Jesus, Help me.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Lord, You don’t want me to be consumed with worry. I know this. You don’t want me to only feel Your peace when I am sharing it with others. I don’t want these things either, and yet, they loom so large at present. YOU are my peace, Lord. YOU have overcome this world. YOU can give me peace at all times in every way. Help me to keep my mind stayed on YOU, Lord. I do trust in You. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Have a blessed day.

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Transforming grace…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

This time of year, I don’t have a lot of patience. I’m not very generous or understanding or loving. I’m just tired. And then God puts this verse so squarely in my path that I can’t avoid it and says, “Beth, precious child, pay attention. This message is for you.”

Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

We love because God first loved us. “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions”–transgressions such as frustration, impatience, lack of generosity, lack of understanding, lack of grace for others. Lord, I’m listening. Help me.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your transforming grace. Thank You for stopping me in my tracks, for whispering to my heart. Help me to forgive myself and others for shortcomings. Continue to transform me in Your image. Amen.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Have a blessed day.

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With Christ…. (devo reflection)

2 Corinthians 12:7b …Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 

Verse 9, where Paul declares that he boasts gladly of his weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon him, reminds me of James 1:2, where we are encouraged to “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds….” Boasting in weakness, celebrating in trails–both seem counter to the way things should be done.

2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 

But Christ was often One to turn things upside down from the normal order. Paul, among others, points that out many times. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 3:19, he says, “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God….” So why does Christ remind us that His grace is sufficient, His  power is made perfect in weakness? I think it is to remind us that if we depend on ourselves, on this world, we will be overcome. Every. Single. Time.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that if we root ourselves in You, if we recognize our weakness, that Your power will rest upon us, and we can, with You, overcome the troubles of the world. With You, the worst thing is never the last thing. With You, we can find both celebration in trials and joy in weakness. Thank You that You don’t play by the world’s rules. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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A work in progress…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 2:18 For through [Christ] we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

I want to talk about verse 22: “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” If you’ll permit me to get my grammar nerd on for a moment, “are being built” is in the continuous present (or present progressive) tense, meaning–according to Grammarly.com–that the action or condition “is happening right now, frequently, and may be ongoing.”

Ephesians 2:19-20 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time waiting for things that take time, but verse 22 being in the continuous present gives me hope. I am certainly not currently a completed dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. I fail every day in a million little ways in my walk with Christ. But I keep trying. And verse 22 implies that this process of becoming is just that–a process, not a done deal. It’s ok that I’m not there yet. I’m still a work in progress.

Ephesians 2:21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 

Lord, Thank You that You don’t expect perfection. Thank You for Your grace, compassion, and mercy. Thank You that I am Your work in progress, Your masterpiece in the making. Help me, always, to strive to become a little bit more like You every single day. Help me to show myself and others grace, compassion, and mercy when we mess up, as we inevitably will. Thank You that in You, I am “being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Amen.

Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Have a blessed day.

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“For he himself is our peace…” (devo reflection)

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

God’s command is love. His ministry is peace. So simple, but not always easy. When I determine who deserves love and who doesn’t, I’m overstepping my bounds. When I can’t find peace, even in situations that no person on earth expects me to find it, I’ve lost my center–Jesus. He is love and peace. He wants me to have love and peace. He wants me to be love and peace to all those I encounter. Jesus, Help me.

Ephesians 2:14-15a For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations…. 

“For he himself is our peace…” My caustic inner critic wants to lambast me when I can’t find peace. That inner voice tells me I’m a failure if I can’t get past myself and cling to His peace. But my precious Savior is whispering to my heart, “I go before you. I am with you. Never will I leave you nor forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (based on Deut 31:8).

Ephesians 2:15b-16 …His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 

Lord, I struggle. So many people struggle. Thank You for loving us in all our messy, weak humanity. Thank You for being our peace, even when we can’t seem to get past the obstacles and claim Your peace. Thank You for never leaving us, never forsaking us. Help us not to be afraid. Help us not to be dismayed. Help us to trust You. Always. Amen.

Ephesians 2:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 

Have a blessed day.

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“being” versus “doing”…. (devo reflection)

Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

I struggle with the idea of “being” versus “doing.” In my mind, my worth is often tied up in what I’m able to do. But Ephesians 2:4-5 reminds me that God’s great love, His mercy, His grace alone saved me. Nothing I did, nothing I could do, nothing I am (except a deeply, fiercely loved child of God), nothing saved me. Only God.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

Verses 8-9 remind me again that I am incapable of saving myself. God’s grace alone saved me. Yet still I struggle, feeling like my worth is tied up in my *doing* and not solely in my *being.* To sit, to breathe, to think “I am enough simply because I am His” feels wrong.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Lord, Thank You for Your fierce, merciful love. Thank You for my salvation, which can only come from You. Help me to understand that You have work prepared in advance for me to do–not so that I can earn Your love or my salvation, but because I love You. My *being* is enough for You. My *doing* is my gift to You. Help me never to forget the difference. Amen.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Have a blessed day. I love you.