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Traveling Mercies…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

As I’m typing this, I’m sitting in the airport. We boarded a flight in Anchorage at 1am this morning, and we’ve finally made it home-adjacent….four time zones and a lot of hours later.

2 Peter 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with
the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

And as I sit here waiting, I’ve thought about this long travel day and all of the blessings sprinkled throughout: a man who had an upholstery business for 40 years and fixed my bag’s busted zipper, a gorgeous pink sky as we flew our first leg, so many smooth flights, the sweet little toddler who smiled and waved as I was stewing about how stinking long it was taking to retrieve this checked bag.

Ephesians 5:16 Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Lord, Teach me to number my days. Give me a heart of wisdom. Help me spend and invest time wisely, with an attitude of grace and love. Thank You for reminding me to pay attention to You, always, because You are always there. Amen.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Have a blessed evening.

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Every single day…. (devo reflection)

2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

Lord, Thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You for loving us fiercely, even when we do really stupid things. Thank You for covering us with Your grace and compassion, again and again, even though we don’t deserve it and can never earn it.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Lord, Help us not to get complacent in Your love. Help us to grow in You—Your word, Your love, Your compassion. Help us not to take Your abundant gift of grace for grant.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Lord, Help us to grow in grace. Help us to seek You passionately, to learn You intimately, to strive to know You just a little better, just a little more, every single day. Help us, Lord. Amen.

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! Amen.

Have a blessed day.

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A vivid illustration…. (devo reflection)

2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

This chapter talks of the dangers of false prophets, who entice people away from God and back into their sinful, worldly ways. That way lies much danger.

2 Peter 2:12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

The chapter also gives a vivid analogy for a person who turns away from God and back to sinful ways. Such a person is like a dog returning to its vomit. That image is truly gross but a vivid illustration of Peter’s point.

2 Peter 2:20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

Lord, The pull of this world is strong. The rewards are immediate. But the value is empty, especially in light of an eternal future with You. Help me to cling tightly to You and Your eternal promise, Lord. Help me to let go of this world. Amen.

2 Peter 2:22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

Have a blessed day.

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Grace and peace mine in abundance…. (devo reflection)

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Last night I had a hard time going to sleep. I had a lot on my mind. I was stressing, fretting, worrying, stewing….You get the idea. And I realized that as long as I was focused on my mess, I would never get to sleep. I had to cast my cares firmly on my Savior and leave them there.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

The only way grace and peace can be mine in abundance is by focusing on my Savior, not myself, not my mess, not my worries and fears (which seem to multiply exponentially). It isn’t easy for me to do, and doing so doesn’t magically make everything ok. But giving my cares over to Him is the only way to free myself up to receive His grace and peace.

2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Lord, I worry about so much, about so many people that I care for deeply. Help me to cast my cares, all of them, on You. Help me to entrust those I love, those I worry about, to You. Help me open myself up to the grace and peace that are mine in abundance only through You. Amen.

2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed day.

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God’s timing is always perfect…. (devo reflection)

Joshua 21:43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.
The Israelites have finally made it to the Promised Land. This is the culmination of a journey that started way back in Exodus 3, when God told Moses He had seen the misery of His people and was sending Moses to bring them out of captivity. I bet if anyone had asked Moses his timeline, it would have looked very different.
Joshua 21:44a The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their ancestors….
But God’s timing is always perfect. “With the LORD a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8). I struggle with that concept a lot because my type A planner mind wants a solid timeline for how everything will unfold. God has been working with me on that one for a while. 
Joshua 21:44b Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that Your timing is perfect and Your promises never fail. Thank You for reminding me that I can trust You and Your promises. Always. Help me to lean into that truth so that I can fully claim the inheritance You have for me. Draw me closer. Amen.
Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Have a blessed day.

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The fickle nature of time…. (devo reflection)

2 Peter 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
In just under a month, the hubs and I will celebrate 22 years of marriage. It feels at once like a long time and a blink of the eye. And daily I have kids chomping at the bit, waiting for the 3:05 bell. The day drags for them, but the afternoon and evening fairly fly until they are back in desks once again, waiting on the 3:05 bell. Time is certainly interesting.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
I am bound by time. Perhaps it stems from decades of school bells, alerting me to the next block, but “What time is it?” is a crucial component in the way that I function. But God doesn’t work that way. Time for Him, with Him, in Him, doesn’t function as it does for me. That clock, which is an ingrained part of my day, doesn’t even exist for Him. It’s totally irrelevant. Jesus, Help me.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of the fickle nature of time. Time feels like such a crucial part of my life, Lord, but I’m pretty sure it’s rather irrelevant in Yours. Help me to wait patiently in joyful hope for all that You have in store. Help me to use my time on this earth, no matter how much time that may be, to shine Your light and point others to You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Have a blessed day.