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Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love.

Sometimes it’s hard to be devoted to others in love. When they don’t seem to care and you feel like you’ve done everything in your power to try to reach them, it can make you think about just giving up. That pretty perfectly describes my afternoon yesterday. Their seeming apathy, coupled with my exhausted frustration, had me wondering if there was any reason to keep trying to reach them.

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

In the brief time between my total frustration and the final bell, I was mentally crying out to Jesus: “What do You want me to do? I’ve tried everything, Lord. They don’t care that I care. They don’t care at all. And I am so tired. Help me, Jesus.” Before the bell, I sent an email asking a sweet friend for prayers. As soon as the bell sounded and the kids were gone, I found another dear friend had sent me Isaiah 46:4. Thank You, Jesus, for sustaining me.

Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Lord, Thank You for this day and for the vivid reminder that my help, my strength, my sustenance comes from You. Thank You, when I thought I was at the end of my reserves, for reminding me that Your power is perfected in my weakness. Thank You for this group, which keeps me on my toes and keeps me coming back to You. Help me to uplift and encourage them. Help me shine Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

Matt 25:23 … “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Today’s Upper Room devotional was entitled “Finishing Well,” and the  title itself captured me immediately. We are finishing things all the time—a task, a day, a goal. In education, we finish 9 weeks, semesters, careers. I was just talking to my seniors yesterday about remembering why they have persevered this long so they could finish strong after Spring Break.
Phil 3:14 I press on toward the goal….
For me, there is so much involved in finishing well, finishing strong. Remembering why I’m doing what I’m doing is certainly important. Tapping into my support system for encouragement is definitely vital. But the crucial element for me is remembering whose I am and why I’m here. My life is not my own. My Savior has a plan for me, things I am uniquely suited to do, people I am uniquely suited to reach. Remembering that fact allows me, in the midst of frustration and despair to say, “Lord, I feel like an utter failure, like everything I’ve tried to do has failed, but I know You have a purpose for me in this situation. Help me fulfill Your purpose, Lord. Use me to accomplish Your will even if I don’t understand.” Thank You, Jesus.
Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your unique purpose for each of us. Help us, even when we are exhausted, frustrated, afraid, to finish well, to finish strong, the work You have given us to do. Draw us closer, Lord. Renew our strength. Amen.
Heb 12:1 …And let us run with endurance the race God had set before us.
Have a blessed day. 

Romans 8:35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity….?
When I look back over the events of my life, my faith has grown the most during difficulties. When things are going well, it is easy for me to shout His praises because I am so truly thankful for His provision, but times of difficulty, where I have no control, when I don’t know how things will work out, those are the times when He works with me on trusting and obeying.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you….
I have noticed during this season of “trail life” that He is working on me in the area of being on the receiving end of other people’s kindness. I’m usually the one helping, not the one needing helped, and apparently, I have a rather large stubborn streak, and I certainly “don’t want to bother anyone” with our needs or problems. Folks have their own families. They don’t need to be worried about us. Jesus, Help me.
Isaiah 43:5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your presence and provision. Thank You that I have found myself so often being able to give help and blessings to others through my actions in Your name. In this season of “trail life,” help us to be as independent as possible while still being grateful for and gracious about the help that we receive. It’s hard to need help, Lord, but sometimes we all do. And there are lessons in faith to be learned on the receiving end of help, too. Thank You for the caring, supportive people You have placed in our lives. We are so grateful. Draw us all closer. Amen.
Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us.
Have a blessed day.

Acts 20:32 ”Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance….”
I have always been pretty hard on myself. Things that I would forgive easily in other people, I would often beat myself up for for days. I’m learning, slowly, to cut myself some slack, to give myself grace. It is a slow, at times painful, process. But growing in grace is always worth the effort.
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!
Anne Lamott once said, “The movement of grace is what changes us, heals us and heals our world.” The movement of grace, growing in grace, is such beautiful imagery. Grace is alive, active. It can grow and move, seeping into the corners, nooks, and crannies, wiping away the dirt, dusting off the cobwebs, breathing God’s life, peace, and healing into spaces long given up as habitable. Grace brings hope, healing, and forgiveness. Thank You, Jesus.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your abundant and amazing grace. Thank You for the knowledge and healing available through Your grace and for the fact that Your grace is active and alive. Help me to extend Your grace to all those I encounter today, Lord, especially myself. Help me to stay rooted in You so I can bear much fruit. Amen.
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Have a blessed day.

John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled….”
As I read John 14 this morning, I was reminded of when my boys were little and we left them in the care of someone else (grandparents, a sitter, daycare, etc). We would tell them how much we loved them, that we would be back shortly, that they knew how to behave and be kind and helpful in our absence. The “pep talk” was to ease any concerns and fears, remind them we loved them deeply and would be back soon, and remind them that they knew how to act. This seems to me to be what Jesus is doing in this passage.
John 14:5 “Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
And just like my children would sometimes have a million questions, some quite silly, others serious, about “what if’s“ in our absence, many prompted by the fear of separation, the disciples are full of questions as well. But Jesus begins and ends this chapter telling them not to worry. He knows there are concerns. He knows there will be missteps and mistakes made, but He is reminding them that He loves them, that He will come back for them, that they know how to act in His absence. Thank You, Jesus.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this message. Thank You for the reminder that You love us deeply, that Your steadfast presence is with us no matter what, that we know how to act in Your absence and we do not need to be afraid because You are with us always. Draw us closer. Amen.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”
Have a blessed day. 

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Literally from the moment my feet hit the floor this morning, this day has not gone as planned. A “series of unfortunate events” from the start seemed to indicate it was going to be a less than stellar day. Furthermore, God usually nudges me as I am reading and studying so that by the time I get to writing my reflection, I already know where He wants me to go with it. Not today. That’s just great. “Where do You want me to go today, Lord? On a morning that has started as this one has, where everything seems to be going downhill, what message do You want me to deliver?” His response? “Rejoice in ME. Always.” Thank You, Jesus.
Luke 10:20 …rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Life is not always good. This morning’s annoyances aren’t earth shattering. They are just obnoxious. But life can knock you flat at times. The chaos and confusion of this world can be deafening, terrifying, maddening. But my hope is not in this world. And this world is not my home. And the chaos of this world will only affect me to the degree that I allow it because my God has already conquered this world. Therefore, I am more than a conqueror. Thank You, Jesus.
Eph 2:8 God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this message of hope and rejoicing, for refocusing me when I allow myself to get distracted by my circumstances. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and love and for the fact that You have overcome this world. Thank You for so very many reasons to rejoice, even when my circumstances try to overwhelm me. Help me to always rejoice in You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Have a blessed day

2 Cor 5:18 All of this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation….
God loves me so much that He sent His son for my sake, so that I could be restored to Him. As an extension of that gift, He has given me (and you and everyone else who has been freed from the bondage of sin by His mercy) “the ministry of reconciliation.” I’ve never given much thought to this idea before, but it feels incredibly important and powerful, this ministry that has been entrusted to us.
2 Cor 5:19 …that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
Reconciliation is the act of restoring to friendship or harmony; the act of re-establishing. It is so easy in this world to feel like a total screw-up, like you have messed up so badly that there is just no hope for you. But the astounding beauty of God’s fierce love through Christ is that He wants all of us, every single one of us, reconciled to Him. He wants all of His children to know they are never too far gone to come back home. And He wants US to tell them.
2 Cor 5:20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your all-encompassing love for us. Thank You for seeing our worth in You despite our mistakes and missteps. Thank You for reconciling us to Yourself through Your Son, a gift we could never earn nor deserve. We are not worthy, Lord, but we are so grateful. Help us each to take seriously this ministry of reconciliation. Help us to shine Your light for all to see. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Cor 5:17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
In reading one of my daily devotionals this morning, I came across this gem: “Praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God” (from Experiencing God Day-by-Day). God has proven Himself, repeatedly, to be steadfast and true, even when I struggle. He has proven that He is sovereign, even when life seems in chaos. This morning His nature and trustworthiness has me praising Him even more earnestly for His love, His mercy, His victory. Thank You, Jesus.
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
In a world with so much suffering and pain, what allows me to praise His holy name so steadfastly? I know that I can trust Him. I know that He has already won the ultimate battle. He has won my heart and soul. He has conquered the grave. He has redeemed this lost and weary world. I am more than a conqueror because my mighty Savior is already victorious. I can praise Him because this world is not my home. Thank You, Jesus.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of Your victory over sin and death. Thank You for loving all of us, deeply and fiercely, simply because we are Yours. Thank You for continually seeking those who are lost and for allowing me to point everyone I meet to You. Draw us closer. Help us to rejoice in You always. Amen.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Have a blessed day.

1 Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
I think others see me as a bit of a “Pollyanna,” always looking on the bright side, always pointing out the positive, always encouraging. The truth is, that’s God. Sometimes, when I’m stuck in my own head, when I’m exhausted and afraid, my inner Pollyanna is no where to be found. But when others need uplifting, when He puts someone in my path who needs encouragement, I simply can’t help but be positive. Thank You, Jesus.
2 Cor 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
God is so good to me. He has provided me with an amazing support network of family, framily, friends who love and encourage me. All those times when I’m struggling to put one foot in front of the other? He always sends me help and hope in human form, one of His many angels on earth. And I hope that this light He places in me, which shines so brightly for Him, provides the same help and hope to others when they need it. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You see us, know us, and use us to uplift and encourage Your people. Thank Your for giving us hope when we struggle and for using us to shine Your light and Your hope when others are struggling. Help us never to forget that “we are all just walking each other home” to You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 32:10b …the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.
Have a blessed day.

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Yesterday, my sister posted some observations on Facebook about 1 Cor 13. The one that struck me the hardest was the fact that 1 Cor 13 talks about how love is to be given, shared, not how it is received. Love is patient and kind, not arrogant or rude. It is not irritable or resentful. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. This is how love acts. This is how love is given. Jesus, help me to love like You love.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
I am incredibly guilty of focusing on how love is received. It is easy to say, “Well, I *tried* to be kind, loving, compassionate, and that person was nasty to me in return, so I’m done.” We are not charged with loving people to the same degree they love us. We are told, again and again, to love one another in the same way that Christ loves us, to focus on how we give love, not on how others receive it. Jesus, Help me.
1 Cor 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this message. Thank You for loving me, fiercely and completely, even though I don’t deserve Your love and could never earn it, even though I’m sometimes grumpy and surly in response to Your love. Help me to focus on how I show Your love to others, Lord, regardless of how my actions are received. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Have a blessed day.