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A life of compassion…. (devo reflection)

Job 31:35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.”

This chapter is where Job tips into the land of parable to me. No human can be utterly blameless and without sin. When I look at New Testament verses such as Matt 5:22 “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment….” and James 4:17 “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is a sin,” then, regardless of where we land right at this moment, we have all sinned in one way or another at one time or another, whether by action or inaction, thought or word or deed.

Job 31:36 “Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown.”

Surprisingly, this doesn’t leave me feeling hopeless. It leaves me feeling compassionate. I am a sinner saved by undeserved grace. How can I, then, in good conscience, refuse to show grace to those in my life who don’t deserve it? The short answer is that I can’t, I shouldn’t. I should extend the same grace on my best day that Jesus extended to me on my worse day. 

Job 31:37 “I would give Him an account of my every step; I would present it to him as to a ruler.)—“

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. I recognize that I may well be comparing apples to oranges when looking at Job’s life and mine, Old Testament and New Testament, but I see a strong lesson here, regardless, a lesson that draws me closer to You and closer to Your people. Thank You. Continue to draw me closer. Help me to live a life of compassion. Amen.

Job 31:40b … The words of Job are ended.

Have a blessed day.

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Gifts and talents…. (devo reflection)

Deut 21:23 …You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. (NIV)
Lord, Every good and perfect gift is from You (James 1:17). All that I have, all that I am, all that I can do is Your gift to me. Thank You.
Deut 21:23 …In this way you will prevent the defilement of the land the LORD is giving you as your special possession. (NLT)
Lord, You have given me these gifts and these talents because You love me. Help me to use them to praise You and to shine Your light because I love you.
Deut 21:23 …The land that the LORD your God is giving you must never become unclean. (God’s Word trans)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder to safeguard these gifts I have been given by You and to use them to glorify and praise You. Thank You for who You are and for who I am in You. Help me to glorify You always. Amen.
Deut 21:23 …You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. (ESV)
Have a blessed day

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Put God first…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words….
I have always been taught to put God first in my life, that I should love God before all others. As a child, I struggled with the thought that I should love God more than my parents. They brought me into this world. They fed, clothed, and guided me. How could I love God more? It was a difficult concept to wrap my head around. As an adult, I understand more fully that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17).
Exodus 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
I have prayed fervently for those whom I love who were sick, prayed that God would heal them here, prayed that as much as I love them, I know that He loves them more and wants what’s best for them, prayed that He would give me the strength to carry on if He called them Home to Him for healing. That’s why God has to come first. That’s why He has to be the Alpha and the Omega in my life, the Beginning and the End (Rev 21:6). It doesn’t mean that life, death, and loss will be any easier or will make any more sense, it just means we know we can trust the One who holds us securely in the palm of His hand.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (NIV)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are my beginning and my end, that You are my center, You hold me together. Thank You that having You at my core means that I can trust You explicitly, even when I am confused, even when I am afraid, even when life makes no sense. Thank You for the precious people You have placed in my life, people You love even more than I do. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
Exodus 20:3 “Do not worship any god except Me.” (CEV)
Have a blessed day.

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When troubles come…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 15:22 Then Moses led the people away from the Red Sea…. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water.

My default is to sit in judgement of the Israelites. The echoes of their songs of joy and thanksgiving haven’t even fully faded yet, and they are already whining and complaining again. But in my heart, I know I have more in common with the fickle Israelites than I would like to admit. I, too, am guilty of whining and complaining when the going gets rough. I, too, am guilty of not remembering God’s provisions when things get tough. Jesus, Help me.

Exodus 15:23 When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink….

James 1:2 reminds me to count it all joy, whenever I face trials of any kind. I know firsthand that it is during trials and troubles that I can feel God’s presence most clearly. Those are the times I feel Him drawing me closer. But just like the Israelites, I’m so quick to whine and complain when those trials come. Jesus, Help me.

Exodus 15:24 Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded.

Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder not to judge and not to whine and complain when troubles come. Thank You for using the difficult times to strengthen my faith and draw me closer to You. Be my strength, my shield, and my very great reward. Amen.

Exodus 15:25 So Moses cried out to the LORD for help….

Have a blessed day.

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Bringing me to the end of myself… (devo reflection)

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds….
I’ll be the first to admit that I my default reaction when I am facing trials in my life is not to rejoice. But as I think about my faith, my ability to praise God and to cling to Him, even when it feels like life is falling apart, I know that that faith was born of the fact that He has brought me through past difficulties when I saw utterly no way out. He has blanketed me with His peace, a peace which surpasses all understanding, when I didn’t even know which way to turn. He’s held me securely through previous trials, and I have every confidence that He will continue. Thank You, Jesus.
James 1:3 …because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
I’m pretty stubborn, and self-sufficiency, in this world, is praised, so it’s hard for me to admit that I can’t handle something, but it is only when I admit my helplessness, my inability to handle a situation, that I can truly get out of God’s way so He can work through me. Trials often take me to the end of myself, which is when I can finally see, feel, and understand His fierce love and great compassion for me. Thank You, Jesus.
James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for drawing me closer to You. Thank You for bringing me to the end of myself so that I can understand in part Your overwhelming love for me. Thank You for grace, wisdom, and mercy, for peace that surpasses all human understanding. Help me to rejoice, always, in Your great love for me. Amen.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Have a blessed day.

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Complete faith…. (devo reflection)

James 2:17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I had a teacher who changed my life. She believed in me before I could believe in myself, and I knew from the age of 15 that I was created to be a teacher. I wanted to do for others what she did for me. And I love my job, but the re-entry from summer to a new school year keeps getting more difficult. This year I feel oppressed by a cloud of grumpiness I just can’t shake. James 2:17 really hit me this morning because, while I have complete faith God has me just where He needs me, I don’t feel that with this “cloud of grumpy,” that I am doing my part in the way that He has called me to do. Jesus, Help me!
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Lord, I don’t know why I’m struggling so at the beginning of this school year, but I am certain that 1. where You have me is exactly where You need me and 2. my attitude MUST change. Help me to set aside my grumpiness so that I can give these young people my best. Help me to encourage, support, and love them as they get their feet under them and move forward toward their dreams. Help me to push them outside of their comfort zones while helping them to see how much strength they have within them. Grant me Your strength and Your peace as I do Your work.
Heb 3:15 As has been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the fact that You are not happy with my current attitude and neither am I. Thank You that we can change our attitudes and our perspectives, even if we can’t change our circumstances. Thank You for a job I enjoy, one that makes a difference. Thank You for Your love and support as I carry out Your will. Draw me closer. Help me shake my attitude so that I can live Your joy. Amen.
John 1:15 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Have a blessed day.

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Fierce love and deep mercy…. (devo reflection)

James 2:13 …Mercy triumphs over judgement.
My caustic inner critic is at it again. She’s dragging to the fore attitudes and insecurities I thought had long been dealt with. She’s calling into question my abilities as a wife, mother, teacher, person. She’s frantically whispering that I should NOT share these feelings and insecurities because I am the only one who deals with them. She thrives in silence and shame. Jesus, Help me.
Luke 6:36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Even with my rational, intelligent side, the temptation is great to believe that I am just too far gone, too messed up, have said too many insecure, irrational things to be salvaged. All she has to do is crack open the door of insecurities, and they all come tumbling out, readily acknowledged. Yep, I’ve screwed up over and over in all my roles. Maybe I am too far gone. Thankfully, my precious Savior doesn’t deem anyone too far gone. He doesn’t love us because of what we’ve done right. He loves us because we are His—fully, completely, entirely His beloved children. He doesn’t need any other reason.
Heb 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for Your fierce love and deep mercy, for the gift of knowing that my inner critic lies. We often pick up the noise of the world, “You aren’t good enough; you’ve screwed up too many times to be salvaged; you are no good to anyone.” Help us to tune out that rubbish and to hear instead Your still, soft voice, whispering, “You are loved; you are cherished; you are enough, simply because you are My deeply beloved.” Help us to show ourselves mercy for our faults and to trust Your deep love for us. Draw us closer. Amen.
Lam 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning….
Have a blessed day.