Even to your old age I am He, and even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and… More
Broken Bars
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. Leviticus 26:13
The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for a long time.
One day is actually too much.
But God rescued them, bringing them out of slavery under Moses’ leadership.
God broke the bars of their yoke, which was incredibly heavy as slaves.
He freed them, causing them to lose not only their yoke, but instead walk completely upright.
They were no longer prisoners.
One can only walk upright without a burden on their back.
Ever tried to carry something heavy or awkward?
We usually stoop at least a bit.
Or what about internal burdens not physically seen?
Those are usually bigger.
The pressures and weight cause us to walk around slightly hunched, eyes downward, gloom written on our faces.
Even our eyes look sad when we are under the yoke of burdens, which become our prison as we constantly feel the pressures, not aware of any escape.
God reminds us in Leviticus of His deliverance from slavery. Of the prison the Israelites were dwelling.
And He also reminds us He has broken the bars of that yoke, allowing us to walk uprightly.
Do you want to walk uprightly as one who has received God’s peace and strength?
Eager to break out of your prison?
Have you given your burdensome yoke to God?
Those pressing situations causing you to stoop over with anxiety or fear?
He wants to break your yoke, allowing you to walk out of your prison, into the freedom He has for you.
As you release all things to God, He will straighten your back, causing a smile to spread across your face.
Walk uprightly. Smile. Look others in the eyes.
You are God’s beloved one. He has your life in His hands.
And He has all the stuff you worry about, too.
When you place your trust in God for not only your salvation, but your life here on earth as well, your prison doors are opened.
Give God your relationships, your jobs, your addictions, your future, and more.
And don’t allow that yoke to reattach as worry and fear begin creeping back into control.
God is more powerful than your burden.
Allow Him to take it off.
He’ll even help you with the transfer.
Now don’t worry about where He put it.
Just pray and trust Him instead.
Doesn’t it feel great to stand tall again?
Photos by Artem Beliaikin, Daniel Born, Daniel Krueger , & Ben White on Unsplash
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Scattering Seeds
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. Mark 4:26-27
Ever become frustrated by a lack of growth in an area?
Could be yourself, a loved one, or a friend.
God’s timing is not always our timing.
Preaching to the choir, I know.
But our job? It is to remain faithful to the call God has on our lives.
Part of our call is to pray for the lost, asking God to soften their hearts.
Part of our call is to encourage others, pointing them to the One they can trust.
And part of our call is to be His witness.
God’s hands and feet to those we meet.
While we usually don’t see any changes, seeds are scattered. Planted. Watered.
You might be the one who scatters that seed.
Or maybe you planted a seed specifically.
Or maybe your job was to water the seed. Again and again.
We often don’t know what role we play on another’s journey to God.
But as long as we are doing our part, we can anticipate the harvest.
But sometimes we don’t even know we are planting any seeds.
We are unaware people are watching, weighing our words or actions with God’s gentle whispers.
And one day, when that harvest pops through, we are surprised as anyone!
Let me give you an example.
Last year I had two pots of pansies on my front porch.
Not sure what kind, but I know now. How do I know?
I have several little bunches popping out of my mulch in full bloom.
Did I plant them? Nope.
Did I scatter the seeds? No, but the plant did.
And this spring, I am enjoying the harvest.
Plus now I know what kind of pansies I had last year.
As you go about your day, praying for others, think about the seeds you are scattering.
It’s pretty incredible to be a part of someone’s story to Jesus.
May we all keep pursuing Jesus on behalf of others we know and don’t know.
And someday soon, may we see a glimpse of the happy souls we love rejoicing with their faith in God.
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Intentional Words
A gentle tongue is the tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4
Are your words gentle and intentional, rich with meaning?
We usually mean what we say, yes?
Or do you spout forth anything which immediately pops into your brain?
For example you might say, “I’m sick to death about it” when asked about a particular situation.
Do you want to be sick literally until the point of death?
That’s what you just said.
No, you didn’t mean that, so don’t say it.
Don’t declare death over yourself.
Or you might say, “I can’t stand my ______”. Could be a body part, your housing, or your job. Sometimes it can even include your family!!!
If you declare you cannot stand something, you are speaking death over it. Utter displeasure. And your body reacts appropriately.
If you cannot stand something, you wish it gone, because you can no longer deal with it.
Isn’t that too extreme to ever use again?
Thinking again about Proverbs 15:4, how gentle is your tongue?
Your words, are they intentional?
When you have a gentle tongue, your words become intentional in a good way.
You speak life with your words so perverse words do not break your spirit.
So how do we proceed? When your brain reverts back to the patterns of worry and fear, speak life instead.
Use your words to declare you fully trust God and are eagerly anticipating God’s plan to unfold. And until then, you are sheltering in the safety of His peace, absent of fear and worry. Why? Because you know He’s got this, you, and everything else.
A gentle tongue from the tree of life produces blessings for the giver and the receiver, erupting into happy bombs inside your head.
Recently while eating a late dinner in an Oklahoma diner, a waitress approached our table. I looked up with my salad question and smiled at her. She immediately gave me the nicest compliment, telling me I was so beautiful. What unexpected, sweet words!
Perverse speech affects us just as much, doesn’t it? Speaking from selfish hearts can bring all of us down real quick. Not what Jesus had in mind when He talked about fellowship with others.
Words are one of the biggest tools Satan uses to produce death in us when speaking over our situations and in others, when speaking to them.
Our words were designed for life. Remember that the next time you open your mouth, which will probably be soon.
Photos by Amador Loureiro, Kyle Glenn, Patrick Tomasso, & wisconsinpictures on Unsplash
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All We Need
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded, with thorns thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine.
What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend?
For this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.
Be near when I am dying, O show thy Cross to me!
And, for my succor flying, come, Lord, to set me free.
These eyes, new faith receiving, from thee shall never move;
For he who dies believing, dies safely in thy love.
—————
This hymn, written about 1300 years ago is so familiar during Holy Week.
The monk who penned these words focused on the depths of Jesus’ love for us.
The love Jesus displayed on the cross is unlike anything ever witnessed before or since.
His willingness to give Himself for us, His beloved, shows how deep His love ran and still does.
Jesus has done everything possible to bring us to Himself forever.
He made atonement for our sinful selves, bridging the gap forever.
He came to earth, died for our sins, and rose again.
How can we not respond?
Give Him your love.
Give Him your life.
Give Him your whole self.
Unbelievably, He gave all of Himself for you. For me.
As we reflect on His sacrifice for us, may we long for more of Him.
May it be our joy to call Him mine.
May we never outlive our love for Him.
May our eyes never stop seeking His perfect plans for our lives.
And may our faith ever increase as we accept His love and sacrifice for our continual sinning selves.
Jesus, we are not worthy of you. We are more than grateful of what you did for us on the cross.
We give you our hearts afresh today.
Renew us and free us from the prisons we create.
And one day may our death find us believing, safely in Your love.
Photos by Thanti Riess, Samuel McGarrigle, Pisit Heng, & Patrick Fore on Unsplash
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How Much Time?
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
As life moves on, days roll into months and years.
Before you know it, life has passed you by.
Another day. I have another day, yes?
Maybe, maybe not.
God knows the hour of your departure from this world.
Only God.
Could be in ten years, could be in twenty-five, could be tonight.
Are you ready?
Ready to meet your Maker? The Creator of all things?
We only have one go. One life. One gift.
What about your family? Friends? Co-workers?
How much time do they have left?
Only God knows.
God asks to be His hands and feet while we live.
His witness to others here on earth.
Are you? What if your role is to help open their door?
Or that last invitation to God they finally accept?
Open your hands to help others.
Open your hearts to relationship with others.
Open your mouth to share God’s good news.
Not obnoxiously, but allow your life to be a witness. A witness for God’s love, peace, and salvation.
You might be that one person who will share with the other.
Making all the difference, another soul will enter heaven.
Life is short. We must do our part, sharing God’s hope and peace to our broken and desperate world.
As time ticks away, let your humble soul witness the goodness of God.
There is no time to lose. The time is now.
Get up and go forth into our world, sharing the witness of God.
His goodness, His faithfulness, His love.
What else matters? Nothing.
Photos by Andrik Langfield, insung yoon, Claudio Schwarz, & Jonathan Wells on Unsplash
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Waiting for You
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18
Morning dawned, and her alarm sounded.
Waking, the girl opened her eyes.
She stumbled out of bed, beginning her day.
Jesus was sitting on a chair by her bed. Waiting.
Returning to her room, she thought of opening her Bible and praying.
She wanted to, but realized she didn’t have the time. She was late.
And Jesus still sat, waiting.
After school the girl returned, but her phone begged for her attention.
Flopping down on the bed, she ignored the thoughts of reading the Bible.
Jesus was still there, waiting.
Dinner came and went. TV shows were watched. Homework completed.
Climbing into bed at the end of the day, the girl glanced at her Bible.
She wanted to read it, but her flesh cried out for sleep.
She mumbled a prayer as she closed her eyes.
And Jesus was still there, waiting.
He waited in her room every day.
He longed for a deeper relationship; He loved her so.
As the years went by, she changed houses and rooms, yet Jesus was always there. Waiting.
She had always grown up believing in Him, asking Him into her heart when she was young.
However, she had never really developed her relationship with God, putting it off even though she felt badly.
But Jesus never left. He was always there, waiting for her.
Did she sit with Him? That all depends. Do you?
Photos by Ben White & Amira Aboalnaga on Unsplash
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Your Choice
When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4
Moses was going about his day.
It was any normal day, aside from the fact there was an unusual burning bush.
The bush was on fire, yet it was not changing. Not consumed by the fire.
It was literally just a bush on fire.
Moses noticed the bush.
Then he stopped and made a choice to approach the bush, investigating further.
God was the flame on the bush.
He was there waiting for Moses.
What if Moses had merely glanced at this phenomenon, continuing instead on his way?
Verse 4 says God revealed Himself after Moses chose to investigate further.
It says when Moses turned aside, then God revealed Himself.
Is God waiting for you in some way?
Are you walking towards God, asking Him to reveal the plans He has for you?
Might require you to walk towards it. To make a choice.
God always gives us a choice.
To recognize our sinful ways, asking God to save us.
To fling off our old destructive patterns, submitting to God instead.
To walk with God every step of the way, sometimes doing things we never thought we could.
God has plans for you, for me.
They might not look like you think they should.
But when God shows up, stop and notice.
That’s what Moses did, but I’m not convinced he knew right away it was God.
Maybe his spirit begged him to investigate.
Or maybe he was naturally curious as God’s creation.
But Moses stopped and turned towards it.
And when he did, God revealed Himself to Moses.
Seek God and walk towards deep in your soul what you know you should do.
Apologize to who you need to.
Speak words of life to those that need it.
And with your whole self, ask God to fill every part with Himself.
Ask Him to help you notice what He asks of you this day.
And when you do, He will faithfully reveal Himself to you, just like He did so many years ago.
Photos by Ndumiso Silindza, Ankhesenamun, Traolách Conboy, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash
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Tears
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. John 11:33
God takes no pleasure in watching us suffer.
He is moved when we are troubled.
He knows the beginning from the end, yet allows all sorts of things.
Sorrows and joys all filter through His hands before they reach our world.
He knows the moment we will receive news we wish we hadn’t.
He anticipates our gut wrenching grief.
So He prepares us, enfolding us in His loving kindness.
I imagine God knowing before us, watching us receive a sorrow from the depths of our souls.
As our Father, our Creator, He weeps with us when the news turns our insides out.
All He asks is our trust. Our trust in Him. His authority. His sovereignty. His plan.
Knowing He stands by our side in sorrow, keeps our feet moving step by step.
Just as I wish I could take away any of my children’s pain, God’s love for us is even more.
He never wants us to suffer, yet He knows our world is full of it.
And suffer we must. Doesn’t mean He enjoys it. Because He doesn’t.
But He allows life to happen. Because of this, we must keep our trust with Him.
Just imagine how He loves us so.
Wanting to witness our joys, never our sorrows.
He loves us so much He sent Jesus, His Son, to die in our place.
God witnessed the death of His Son.
Because of this, we can rest assured God understands.
He understands pain, and the purpose of pain.
The purpose of sacrifice.
As we identify with God in our pain, allow Him to scoop you into His loving arms.
God, who created you, understands.
He longs for your trust, burden, and your tears.
Allow Him to comfort you. He longs to. Every single time.
Photos by Ingmar H, Jametlene Reskp, Pascal van de Vendel, & Hannah Busing on Unsplash
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Trusting God, Still
You hem me in, behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5
Still I trust You, God.
Even when life throws me down.
Still I will trust You, God.
Even when a loved one passes on from this earth.
When my heart tears open once again.
Still I will trust You, God.
When my body betrays me, despite filling it with health.
When we wait for results, which are in the hands of God.
Still I trust You, God.
When life doesn’t make sense.
When I’m too tired to care much anymore.
Still I trust You, God.
When everything certain seems to disappear,
You, God, remain still.
You remain with me every moment of every day.
You hem me in behind, beside, and before.
You order my steps. Then you walk every one with me.
Nothing in this world compares to You.
You’ve always been there for me. And You always will be.
Even when life becomes too hard or very much real.
That’s why I trust You still.
And I always will.
Because Your faithfulness and gentle loving-kindness remind me I have nothing to fear.
Photos by Tomas Hudolin, Arleen wiese, Daiga Ellaby, & David Beale on Unsplash
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Smoke Alarm
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. James 1:19
You’re exhausted from a long day at work.
Arriving home, you plop into your chair.
You smell something slightly off, but ignore it.
Doesn’t seem important.
Your spouse comes to you, mentioning the smell.
Since you have decided it’s not important, you inform your spouse it’s nothing.
After all, your authority stands as gospel.
In the middle of the night, you are awakend by a smoke filled room.
Coughing, you can barely breathe.
Together, you both slowly crawl out of the bedroom, barely escaping the raging fire.
Standing in the yard, you survey your house, now engulfed in flames.
You’ve lost everything.
And so has your spouse.
Everything except for each other.
If only you had listened to her, your home would still be standing.
The tiny flame would have been easy to stamp out.
But the tiny flame grew into a total loss.
Nothing left.
Daily we must be on the lookout for smoke. Warnings.
Comes in a variety of ways through your job, finances, habits, and relationships.
Satan does not want your marriage to thrive.
He wants to whisk away your children.
He wants to distract you from your relationship with God.
And he wants to destroy your peace on earth.
Be on alert, reacting with those Holy Spirit nudges.
Takes humility. Perseverance. Strength. Focus.
But God’s here, standing by your side with all the tools you could possibly need.
In fact, when you place your faith and trust daily in Him, He’ll help you smell that smoke the moment it erupts.
May we listen to the hearts of others God uses to speak through.
May we honor the thoughts of our spouse, because then we honor the thoughts of God.
May our habits reflect the nudges of God as we obey His plans for us.
May we cover the flame of conflict with humble godliness before our ignorance causes us to loose everything.
Photos by Kilian Seiler, Steven Weeks, Piotr Chrobot, & Olivia Snow on Unsplash
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Selfish Switch
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:16
Isn’t the switch too easy?
Usually a moment of pure insanity.
One moment we are living for God…
And the next minute we are focused again on ourselves.
One minute we are speaking life to others…
And before we realize it, we’ve refocused again completely on self.
James reminds us selfishness breeds disorder and every evil thing.
Yuck. Can you picture the ugliness we spread when focused on ourselves?
Ignoring others breeds rejection in their minds.
Always placing your needs first spreads the superiority message.
And that’s just scratching the surface.
What do you generally focus on as you go about your day?
With what lens do you see life?
Your own lens or God’s?
May we stop switching back to our own.
May we look through God’s lens to see what He sees.
And may we choose to focus on what He has for us today.
Come along and make the switch with me.
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His Creation
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them…And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:27-28,31
God created us in His image.
We are the only things He created so special.
Yes, everything He created is unique. Amazing. Intricate.
But we are the only creation made literally in His image.
The image of God is stamped upon you.
Let that sink into your incredible brain He created to contemplate!
He also gave us dominion over all living things on this earth.
That includes yourself.
Your flesh.
You, through God’s power, have dominion over your flesh.
Yes, your flesh was created in God’s image.
But sin entered the earth, marring your flesh forever.
The war you have with your flesh is because of sin.
But you can win.
You can win your war over your flesh, because of Jesus.
Finally, God called all of His creation very good.
While I don’t let my students use that word as an adequate adjective, in Genesis “good” refers to beautiful or best.
God created you in His best way.
Created in His image, you are beautiful. The best. So good.
Remember today where God has placed you.
Above all His other creation.
Made in His image.
The very image of God.
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Pouring Blessings Out
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
Are you praying for God to bless others?
For others to have great success?
How about those you struggle to love?
Or people you cannot stand?
Shouldn’t we ask God to bless them, too?
Oh wait, they don’t deserve it. Is that it?
Well we don’t either, according to God’s law.
We are no more special than any other person.
What if instead of complaining, we bless?
What if instead of keeping division, we seek peace?
What if instead of walking away from we walk towards?
God is calling us higher.
Followers of God must differ from the world.
Blessing those who curse you is a real difference.
And it’s a great place to start.
Besides, when God begins to hear your heart, He just might bless them.
And they’ll be way less annoying anyhow.
More importantly, your heart will soften.
And don’t we all profess to want to be more like Jesus?
Choose to speak life over others.
The ones who will receive and the ones who will not.
You can start by inserting their name into Psalm 1:1-4, declaring that person is blessed. Like a well watered tree. Producing much fruit.
By speaking life over someone, your irritation will lessen towards them and God just might break through in their lives. And yours.
We cannot pretend to know God’s ways, but we can place our hearts with His, blessing instead of cursing those around us. Especially those who are the most irritating.
Photos by Creative Captures, Fumiaki Hayashi, Blake Cheek, & Sebastian Pichler on Unsplash
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Appointed and Annointed
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5
How do you see yourself?
Defeated or victorious?
Less than or worthy?
Demoted or honored?
Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us of our value.
Who God says we are.
Before we took our first breath, God set us apart.
God, who made all things, declares our worth.
His word is infinitely more important than the opinion of others.
Do you see this?
Do you see your value?
You must. You must cement it into your precious brain.
Because the firey darts will come.
They will come, trying to spread their poison into your very being.
Lies from others.
Jealous, hurtful words.
Or mere remarks not meant to be for your ears.
The devil will also try his hardest to influence you.
To confirm the fears he plants into your head, bringing your worth equal to a smelly trash heap.
Choose to believe the truth.
Choose to look at yourself through God’s eyes.
God sees you completely protected by His strength, purpose, and love.
Liken it to His armor, worn, yet strong as steel, covering every inch of your vulnerable self.
Pretend you are peeking through God’s armor, which covers you with His value.
His predestined value of you.
God’s protection over you is real.
Just like your truth as His beloved.
Marked to accomplish His work to the nations.
Trust God, obey His declaration, and believe your worth.
Will you partner with God today?
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Your Value
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4
You are capable. You are confident. You belong here.
Recently shared those words with a loved one, who was questioning her abilities.
When she repeated them, a smile broke out across her face.
She was reminded of her value.
When walking into a new situation, lack of confidence is normal.
You can begin to question if you’re even capable.
If you actually belong.
When we lose the belief in ourself, our outward actions tend to mirror our timidity.
We become shy. We fumble around, grasping at straws. We actually don’t belong when acting like so.
Do you believe who God says you are?
Because that’s where your confidence ultimately rests.
It’s where your words of belonging were born.
Before God made this world, He thought of us.
It’s like God smiled when you entered His mind, before anything on earth existed.
You are that important.
Knowing this, you can live from this truth.
You are capable. You are confident. You belong here.
Now it’s your turn to smile.
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Your Closest Friend
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 1:5
Jesus is as close as you want Him to be or as far away as you choose for Him to be.
He’s always right by your side.
You can choose to let Him into your life, or not.
You can be as intimate as you want.
Jesus would like to be your all in all.
Your closest friend.
But it’s your choice.
If you choose to push Him away, He’ll go.
Not because He wants to, but because of your choices.
But the moment you change your mind, calling to Him, He’ll run right back.
Because He loves you.
Decide today to put God the very first in your life.
Life won’t be easy, but under the umbrella of God’s love, wisdom, and peace, His protection will filter the harsher bites of life and soothe the painful parts, too.
There really is no choice, but God.
Bring God close to you.
It’s why you were created.
For relationship with God Himself.
Photos by James Lee, Giorgio Trovato, Chris Curry, & Andrew Spencer on Unsplash
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Holding Onto What?
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
What are you holding onto that is keeping you from the promises of God?
What are you keeping closer to your heart than God?
God’s promises are for you.
You. His beloved.
But only when you surrender everything.
Everything you hold dear and everything you hold in place of God Almighty.
So, I ask you again. What are you holding onto that is keeping you from God’s promises?
Are your spouses actions or inactions causing you to resist God’s promises?
Are your children’s attitudes or flaws causing you to stay within yourself?
Are your flaws and failures causing you to calculate without God?
God’s promises for blessings require your dedication to Him.
To Him and Him alone. God, that is.
When your spouse repeatedly disappoints you, should that matter?
When your children fail you, does that reflect your parenting?
When you succumb again to your temptations, do you stay stuck within yourself?
Keep pursuing what God has for you.
Keep placing your trust into His hands.
Keep surrendering your life to Him.
As you repent and place yourself at His feet, His promises will be yours.
All He wants is you.
All of you.
Even the dark parts.
Let Him make everything new.
Determine to make this new year God’s and God’s alone.
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Mary’s Emotions
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
As mothers, we feel deeply.
Natural or adoption, the moment we hold that child in our arms, our hearts forever change.
Mary, the mother of our Lord, was no different.
She had the same emotions we do, ranging from complete joy to absolute sorrow.
Starting it all, she was asked by God Almighty to obey.
And she did.
She obeyed God even though it could have meant banishment from her community, family, and friends.
She didn’t know Joseph would agree to stay.
But God had it all planned.
Mary’s mothering role continued as her relationship with Jesus grew.
Imagine her teaching him how to walk.
How to tie his sandals.
How to politely greet an adult.
Mothers are protective of their children, often to the extreme.
Ever heard the term Mama Bear?
You understand.
Was Mary even more protective of Jesus because of who he was?
Did she know when Jesus would begin his ministry?
I imagine when he began, she helped him when she could.
Mothers are proud of their children, and I’m sure Mary couldn’t have been prouder of the man Jesus became.
Do you think she knew he would have to die on a cross?
Even if she did, I’m sure she was not prepared for the immense grief she experienced, watching her precious boy slowly die in that awful way.
Mary experienced the awe of an angel asking her to obey.
Mary endured the pain of watching her son painfully die.
Mary signed up to be the only mother Jesus had on earth.
I’m guessing she knew what it would entail, yet could not comprehend the depth of emotions she would feel.
But she obeyed, knowing God would always stand by her side.
And just like Mary, God will always stand by your side, too.
Photos by Joshua Reddekopp, M.T ElGassier, Eric Froehling, & il vano on Unsplash
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Choosing Joy
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. Psalm 16:9
I just love Christmas.
Always have.
Love my candles in each window.
They’ve evolved into not only battery operated, but put themselves on and off with their timer.
Absolutely brilliant.
I laugh as the kids and I used to rush around at dusk, plugging in all of our candles.
Numbered in the 30’s at least as we had so many windows on all sides of our classic house.
It took a few minutes, but was well worth the trouble.
The effect was stunning.
Sometimes we’d hear a crash and someone, usually me, would run up with a dust pan and brush, cleaning up the shattered bulb, putting in a new one.
Baking cookies with my grandmother also comes to mind.
We’d spend a Saturday each fall making a few different kinds.
Sampling so much cookie dough, we would barely finish a shared mini pizza for dinner.
Priorities, people.
After my children were born, they’d join us in her kitchen, standing on chairs, spilling sprinkles everywhere.
Christmas Eve services and special sit down dinners are also tops on my list.
Only stayed up one time for the 11 o’clock service with my grandparents.
Happy I did that, but once was enough!
As we gather more and more Christmas memories, time with family becomes even more tender.
Joy spills forth with the mere thought of this time of year.
But what happens when families split or members decline Christmas invitations?
One can tend to pout. To dwell on the one difficult circumstance instead of the hundreds of happy ones.
Yes, it can ruin everything.
So what if your holiday doesn’t look like you want?
Doesn’t look like you pictured or planned?
Will you let that reality steal your joy?
Or will you let the disappointments fall away like water on a duck’s back, concentrating instead on the reason for our Christmas season?
Because Jesus came to earth, you can have pure joy.
Because of Jesus, you can have peace in your heart. Like anytime you ask.
Because Jesus was born and ultimately died for you, you can have life eternal.
Nothing in this world can match the joy of Jesus’ birth and what it signifies for you and for me.
Mere disappointments pale in comparison.
This Christmas, focus on Jesus’ love for you instead.
When you fix your eyes on Him, the cares of this world will fade away.
Not finding the perfect gift, decorating your tree at the last minute, or opening canned cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning do not matter the least little bit.
Only Jesus matters.
Focus on Him, putting your worldly cares and disappointments in their place, beneath the altar.
Let your face reflect your decision to choose joy for this season.
Jesus is born! What more could we possibly need?
Photos by Debby Hudson, Anshu A, Anne Nygård, & Jon Flobrant on Unsplash
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Always by Your Side
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. Isaiah 41:10
He’s here.
Picture Jesus sitting right here.
In the chair beside you.
He’s as near as your very breath.
He’s waiting for you to need Him.
He knows you need Him, more than you even realize, but He gives you that choice.
He knows your heart belongs to Him, but sometimes it wanders away a bit.
When your heart wanders, it seeks after things of this world instead of God.
Jesus is seeking the Father on your behalf.
Always in prayer for you.
Your needs. Your health.
Your very life.
Anticipating your sigh, He looks at you.
Love and sympathy pour from His eyes.
He sees you.
He knows you.
He has a plan for all your days.
Good things, hard things, and everything in between.
He longs to hear your heart.
To carry your burdens, big or small.
As you labor through this life, reach out to Jesus.
Tell Him your joys.
Your sorrows.
Your hopes and dreams.
By the way, He already knows them all.
Reach out to Him afresh today.
He’s right here waiting for you.
Photos by Joshua Lawrence, Andrew Shelley, eduard, & Ben White on Unsplash
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A Christmas Carol
Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 12:28
Ever read A Christmas Carol?
My eighth graders read it with me this past month.
I know we’ve all seen the movie or the play twice or a dozen times.
We know the story well.
But have you actually ever read it?
It’s so much better.
The text portrays the struggle like no movie can.
The struggle between selfishness and generosity.
Between hate and love.
Good and evil deep in one’s soul.
The wrestle between habit and change.
The text opens depicting Scrooge as a vile human being.
He’d rather kill the poor than shove meager crumbs their way.
He looses the love of his life because his “golden idol” has replaced her.
It takes trips to his past, present and future to finally change Scrooge’s heart for good.
Stave 4 depicts his future.
His soul is overcome with grief at how his sorry life is forgotten, all his worldly gains vanishing into the hands of thieves.
His grief is profound, even gut-wrenching.
At the end, Scrooge is found begging for the chance to change his future.
He is pleading with the Ghost of Christmas Future, desperate to know if there is still time to change what is to come.
To my eighth graders, I posed a question:
What if God showed you a movie of your future, based upon your character of today.
What would you see?
And I ask you.
Are the choices you make today creating the future God wants for you?
Or are you forging ahead on the path to destruction?
May it not be so.
Let us wake from our sleep, recognizing how much God can accomplish through us.
May we recognize the choices God brings to us and choose wisely.
And may God bless us, every one.
**originally posted December 7, 2019 as “Scrooge”.
Photos by Annie Spratt, Alin Andersen, & Mariana B. on Unsplash
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Living Within Forgiveness
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
What if you lived from a place of forgiveness towards others?
Those who hurt you, often repeatedly?
God, whose faithfulness endures to all generations, is merciful.
He promises to hold you upright as a steadfast Rock.
And He’s forgiven you all of your sin.
All of it.
So what if you lived within God’s forgiveness, granting others grace as well?
You might feel justified withholding compassion or forgivness.
But that’s not for your concern.
Your concern is not doling out justice. That’s God’s business.
If you live without the lens of forgiveness, your disposition, attitude, and even health are affected.
But if you allow yourself to live within God’s forgiveness flowing through you, everything will be different.
Don’t let people walk all over you, but live within the grace of God.
Stand up gracefully for yourself, but allow others to make their own mistakes.
Living within forgiveness frees others.
But the biggest reward is for your heart.
When your heart lets go of bitterness, the ugly parts melt away, revealing the heart of God.
Only possible with God’s love all mixed up with yours.
Would you rather have a heart full of scars and ugly dead parts?
Or a heart with God’s love all mixed up with yours, sending life everywhere it travels?
Ask God for His infusion today.
And run into that freedom He has for you.
The freedom He died to give you when He forgave you all your sins.
Photos by Melanie Stander, Alex Shute, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash
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Still Good
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore. Psalm 125:2
Even if, God is still good.
Even if my daughter has cancer, God is still good.
Even if my family looks different than what I planned, God is still good.
Even if holidays are not what I pictured, God is still good.
Even if our country elects the leader I don’t choose, God is still good.
Even if the world erupts in war, God is still good.
Even if I don’t look the way I wish, God is still good.
Even if my parents go their separate ways, God is still good.
How do I know our God is still good even if?
Because in the midst of it all, God holds all things in His hands.
He created all things.
The world and all it contains exists only because of Him.
And when humanity fell apart, He redeemed our broken world through His Son, Jesus.
Because He loves us.
Yes, He allows free choice, which is why there is sin.
And yes, He allows sin to affect us.
But rest assured, He still holds you in His hands.
In fact, He surrounds you with His perfect peace when you surrender it all to Him.
He has plans just for you.
So even if the worst happens, God is still good.
Always and forevermore.
Photos by Jeremy Bishop, Ales Krivec, Steve Carter, & Yannick Pulver on Unsplash
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Losing Control
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
I hold onto things too tightly.
When I do, I remain in control.
As more and more things climb into my hands, I stumble, dropping everything.
I stand, crestfallen at the mess before me.
Looking up, I see You, my God, are here.
Your arms are reaching down to me, inviting me to come.
To surrender.
I place my hand in Yours as You lift me onto Your lap.
Instantly feeling peace, I rest, knowing You are the great I Am.
I look down at the life I’ve spilled and because of You, the messy pile is gone.
You’ve organized all of it for me.
In it’s place is a nice neat row, everything in a logical place.
You’ve even added Your touch, causing it to look more beautiful than it’s ever looked.
Thank you for reminding me that You, God, are in control.
You are my helper. My shield. My protector.
You are the author of my peace.
My constant shelter in the storms of life.
Remind me to give you my daily moments.
Remind me to let You hold my days as you protect me, allowing my hope to dwell in the future plans You have just for little ole me.
Photos by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
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I Am Yours, God
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24
You know my heart, Lord.
You created it.
You fashioned me in every way.
My talents.
My hopes.
My dreams – all of them are from You.
I want to know You more.
I want to trust You with all that I am.
The moment I wake, may You be on my mind.
When I close my eyes at night, may my thoughts remain on You.
You have my best in mind.
You created me for a higher purpose.
Reveal Your plans to me, O God.
May I recognize Your divine appointments.
May I minister Your peace to those around me.
May I comfort those who are sad.
May I rejoice with those who share.
May I pray with those who need Your touch.
And may I be a living extension of You.
Photos by Rula Sibai, Annie Spratt, Nong, & Gary Yost on Unsplash
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God or Our Flesh
So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Romans 7:25
Can I get a witness?
So true, isn’t it? Our minds long to serve God, yet our flesh longs to serve sin.
Waking up every morning, we once again purpose to walk within God’s plan for our day.
Yet how soon does our flesh rise up to sin?
Reacting with a snarky comment to our spouse.
Thinking of our own needs first instead of others.
Allowing an anxious thought to take root in our mind.
Believing a lie about our identity in Christ.
Lying to get out of a sticky situation.
Ignoring what you know you should accomplish, indulging in your flesh instead.
Becoming grumpy pants whenever things are not going your way.
Dwelling in self-pity or poor me.
Worrying to the point of fear filling your mind.
When we participate with sin, we are serving the law of sin.
Ouch. Do you want to serve sin?
Heck no. I’m not sure we consciously say to ourselves we want to serve sin as we indulge with our flesh.
But that’s what we do when we sin. We serve it. We agree with it because we succumb to it’s temptations.
But God is on the throne, His power to withstand is available to us – we only need to ask and then stand firm. Again and again. And again.
Lord, help us to continue in the mind of Christ, instead of living within the sin of our flesh.
Fill us with your Holy Spirit and help us to remember You with every thought as we go about our day.
Cement in our hearts Your ways, Your peace, and Your presence.
May we long for You more than our flesh.
Only with Your power within us will we ever have a breath of hope.
You are above our sin and we are nothing without You.
You are our God, forevermore reigning for all of eternity.
We praise You for thinking of us, helping us, and wanting us to follow in Your footsteps.
May we live to glorify Your name as we serve you instead of ourselves.
Photos by Karsten Winegeart, Jessica D. Vega, & Silvana Carlos on Unsplash
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Belief in the Truth
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:5
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11
How often do you believe only what you think is the truth?
How do you know it’s true?
What if it’s only partial truth? Or actually a complete lie?
Here’s an example. The Israel/Palestinian conflict is generations old.
Long-held beliefs passed down within families.
Each side seems justified in their own minds.
But what is their focus? Peace or war?
How do they teach their children to live among their enemies? Love or hate?
Recently, Hamas surprised innocent Israelis, killing civilians, capturing others as hostages.
Most shockingly, babies were found murdered, some with heads and some without.
Many people were required to witness the carnage. It’s almost unbelievable this level of evil exists.
The witnesses were there for one reason: to testify what they saw.
It’s what Allied troops did when liberating concentration camps in WW2.
Witnesses were necessary as people wouldn’t have believed it otherwise. How could they when one couldn’t imagine such evil?
And some don’t, still to this day, believe the holocaust existed.
They want to believe their own narrative instead.
Thinking about the recently murdered Israeli babies, there are protestors who deny this happened.
Say it’s propaganda.
They believe what they want instead
To keep the hate going.
What truth do you refuse to see in your own life?
What addiction, habit, or attitude do you regularly engage in that seeks to block you from seeing God’s truth?
What lies do you believe in your mind about your true identity in Christ?
What lie wraps you in fear, disabling your ability to see the truth?
Evil is real. Satan is real.
And both want to destroy you, the people you love, and any hope of peace in this world.
Oh God, let us see Your truth.
Let us humble ourselves under Your authority in our lives.
May we humbly see the errors of our ways, wanting instead for You to make known Your perfect way, which leads us in Your truth.
Photos by Timothy Eberly, Jeremy Yap, & Carlos Magno on Unsplash
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Hairy Vacuums
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Does your vacuum become stuck when hair completely wraps around the spinner thing or is it just me?
Smelly rubber wrapped in junk doesn’t move well.
We must stop and dejunk it. Eww.
Grab a coin to open up the bottom.
Lay the vacuum down.
Taking scissors, carefully slice through the thick hair all the way down.
Pull it off in hunks, repeating the action again and again and again, while tossing it into the trash.
Continue until it’s all gone.
Needed to continue the vacuum’s optimal function. Admittedly a bit satisfying, yet completely gross.
How often do you dejunk your heart? Your mind? Your body? Your soul?
It must be a regular thing.
Like literally regular.
Sin can attach to us, causing us to muck up ourselves.
Attitudes creep up.
Fleshly desires become bigger.
And before you know it, back we are as full of junk as our dear vacuums.
Step back today and assess yourself.
What’s your focus? Your level of anxiety? Your resting face?
Choose to refocus on Jesus.
Allow Him to dejunk your heart once again.
Then choose again to focus on Jesus the next moment. And the next. And the next.
Cleaning hairy vacuums isn’t only completed once. It’s done again. And again. And again….
Just like cleaning out your heart. Choose to refocus on Jesus.
The only difference? It gets easier and easier to choose Jesus.
But cleaning out hairy vacuums? It’s disgusting every single time.
Photos by No Revisions, Corina Rainer, Ryan ‘O’ Niel, & Brian Lundquist on Unsplash
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Unaffected, Unmoved, Unavailable
When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Genesis 5:1
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
How affected are you by others?
How often do situations move you into fear?
How available are you to the enemy’s agenda?
Guilty!
I know the truth of who God says I am.
Yet often, I fail to remember.
I know the truth, yet I often forget.
Am I alone in this, or does this happen to you, too?
When I forget, I am affected deeply by the ugliness of others.
When I forget, I am moved to fear or anxiety, sometimes even liking my pity party.
And when I forget, I become available to the devil’s lies. To his schemes. To his agenda.
That’s why we need Jesus, His ever present help.
Why we need the Holy Spirit’s whisper, reminding us of the Bible’s truth.
Only with our continual trust in God can we even hope to thwart the enemy’s plans for us.
One weapon we have is to memorize scripture.
Paste a special one somewhere you’ll see it often.
Continually remind your brain of Who made you. Of Whose image you bear. Of Who loves you.
Let’s try it for a second.
Think about how bad someone recently made you feel.
Feel your mood start to shift downward?
Now confidently speak these words to your brain: You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Picture yourself standing tall alongside Jesus, His crown on your head.
Picture yourself standing at the cross, Jesus looking at you, dying just for you.
Picture Jesus standing in front of you as you walk into a tricky situation.
You are protected, loved, and safe.
You are chosen.
The next time you begin to fall back into your poor me, even deserving of the attitude self, picture yourself seated in the high places with Jesus.
He chose you for this time.
He is for you, not against you.
With the Creator of the entire universe by your side, absolutely nothing else matters.
Walking in this world will only last for a short time, when compared to all eternity.
Why let others bring you down?
It’s not worth it.
You’re certainly worth more.
God says so.
Photos by Tim Mossholder, NEOM, & Adam Davis on Unsplash
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Faithful in Little Things
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Picture me, my little girl self, about four or five years old.
Hair curled, dress smoothed, hands in my lap listening to my sunday school lesson.
The offering is passed and I reach into my pocket for all of my change.
It’s not much, doesn’t even equal $1.00, but it’s all I have.
I brought it especially for today.
For today’s offering.
Looking back, I cannot remember what it was for, but I’m sure it was for a very good cause.
Anyhow, I cheerfully place all of my change into the offering basket.
A huge grin breaks out onto my face as I hear my change clink against the other coins.
Thinking nothing of it afterwards, a new day dawns.
I put on my big fluffy coat, zipping it all the way up.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out an entire dollar bill.
“How did this get here?” I ask myself. “Where is this from?”
Suddenly, I recognize I have more now than I did before I gave away all my change.
I am amazed.
Like, for real.
Isn’t it interesting how some memories stand out from years ago?
They stand out from the others. Crystal clear.
I think it’s all part of God’s plan.
We need to remember glimpses of His faithfulness.
His provision.
Proof He sees us. All of us.
He watches over us, smiling when we give our last penny, grinning when we find our new treasure.
God loves to bless us when we give Him our all.
And if you look back, noticing how good He has been to you, you’ll break out in your own smile today.
Every little detail is inspected by God.
Because of this, you can trust Him for your now and your future.
Even if it seems dark, lonely, or sad, your God sees you.
He covers you with His protection and kindness, as He notices every little detail.
Photos by Igor Kyryliuk & Tetiana Kravchenko, Jack B, Luke Porter, & Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash
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Setting Your Mind
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
Do you live according to the flesh? If so, that’s what you focus on.
Do you live according to God’s spirit? If so, that’s the lens you view life.
Literal night and day difference.
A few verses earlier, Paul reminds us Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, which is our flesh. We are free from that law of sin because Jesus condemned that sin to death.
We are free if we have invited the Spirit of God to dwell within us.
Through this, we have freedom from our flesh.
But how do you actually live?
Do you live within your flesh?
The Bible says that brings death. Living in the flesh.
Or do you seek the mind of Christ, which brings life and peace?
Not sure we as Christians ever purposely choose to live within the flesh.
But we do. All the time.
Reaching for more food when your stomach is satisfied.
Watching more television then need be.
Scrolling through your phone, neglecting other options.
Pouring out your bad mood onto unsuspecting family members.
Wanting your way and pouting if you fail to get it.
Choosing first the best of the meal before anyone else gets a chance.
Listening to thoughts that are not of God.
Succumbing to fear believed through lies planted in your mind.
Romans 8 reminds us of our choices: we set our mind on the flesh or the Spirit.
Death and fear or life and peace.
Setting your mind means to purpose.
To go a certain way.
Not sure it means little bumps, as long as you redirect your course back to God.
Finally, verse 9 gives us hope as Paul shares we dwell with the Spirit of God when we belong to him.
The Spirit of God is life. Full of life.
So every time your flesh cries out for itself, remember your are not going to live from within your flesh.
Your goal is no longer to please your flesh.
Instead, set your mind on the Spirit, dwelling within His peace and life.
Photos by Kyle Glenn, Jessica Anderson, & Yannick Pulver on Unsplash
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Hugged by God
And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. Mark 10:16
Have you ever felt a hug from God? You know, a big bear hug?
Or maybe a little squeeze?
I have.
In fact He gave me a huge hug on Sunday.
How? It was through all the people filtering through my book sale.
The line was so long. And I was afraid nobody would show up!
Their words were so kind. Generous. Made me blush!
One mentioned I am a faithful servant, sharing what God has on my heart.
Another couldn’t get over how beautiful the book was.
Still more were so tickled I signed their books.
Me. Little ole me.
Years ago, God asked me to record His thoughts for our broken world.
I obeyed.
Fast forward two years ago and my publisher knocked on my door.
Producing the book was my second job for awhile, yet I knew God’s purpose was behind it.
Sitting in my house early summer, I also knew I should host a book launch party.
The thought almost terrified me. Me?
Deepest fears emerged such as what if I’m there all by myself?
But I obeyed. Again.
When we obey God again and again, He patiently shows us the way.
Then He shows up, doing what He does.
When folks stood in my book line, I shouldn’t have been the least bit surprised.
God is like that, isn’t He?
He asks us to do something. We obey, and He shows up. Big time.
It’s always been God’s blog.
And now it’s God’s book.
While it’s absolutely not about me at all, He chose me to be one of His vessels.
And I chose to obey.
On Sunday I felt wrapped in a big hug from God.
Like He was saying, “Great job, Amy!”
God is generous with His hugs. He longs to cover us with His peace, joy, and love.
How can you choose to obey God today?
Choose Him and obey. Then sit back for that big ole hug.
When you abide in His will, His peace will remain, wrapping you in His precious hug.
Photos by Joice Kelly, Rajesh Rajput, & Elijah Hiett on Unsplash
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Casting Vision
I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion. Ephesians 1:18-22
How do you see valleys in your life?
How do you view circumstances you wish were different?
Strained relationships you wish were closer?
Undelivered dreams or plans you thought were from God?
What if you reread Ephesians 1, applying it to your situation?
God has great plans for us.
Often we cannot see what they are, but Ephesians reminds us God has called us to a great hope.
To the riches of His inheritance to us.
And to dwell within His great power, which raised Jesus back to life.
What if you looked at the broken things in your life in light of God’s power?
Viewing them instead with eyes of hope, promise, and life?
Within our flesh, things can look pretty grim.
And sometimes they continue in that way, but God is always sovereign over all.
But – if you looked instead with heavenly eyes, circumstances and people would look different.
Human reasoning or God’s miraculous power?
Begin to live from the power God has for us.
See relationships healed with God’s strength.
Smile at the future knowing God is in complete control.
Look past your current circumstances, looking forward instead to what God has for you.
Walk with your head high as you contemplate God’s victory instead of casting your eyes downward in defeat.
Yes, God is over everything with complete control.
Yes, we don’t know what He plans with every little thing.
But you can rest assured He wants good things for us, His children.
Good things in our flesh may not always match up with the good He has for us.
But it doesn’t matter.
Because God is with us always.
He goes before us, behind us, and next to us, surrounding us with His peace, strength, and love.
Cast your vision on God’s hope, inheritance, and power.
As His voice becomes louder within, you’ll see life brighter and brighter, royally disappointing the devil along the way.
So instead of shrinking with fear, rejection, and lies, choose instead to shine with God’s hope and infinite power living inside of you.
Photos by Ran Berkovich, Denys Nevozhai, Bud Helisson, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash
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Worshipping Even If
We’re all so different.
Different in personalities, the way our bodies work, and our priorities.
While singing in church last Sunday, I observed three distinct differences.
The congregation rose to worship. All but the man in front of me. Why?
The man in front of me was distracted.
He instead was sitting, reading and typing on his phone’s screen.
Not worshipping at all.
A few rows up, another man stood to worship.
Clapping in time with the music, I noticed his clap was different.
One of his arms was useless. Literally.
Yet he was clapping the best way he could by using his arm and his good hand.
He was engaged, giving his best to our Lord.
Near the alter was a third man.
His mind is not whole like mine, yet he is very sincere and kind.
He was worshipping as he knelt, arms spread wide in submission to God.
Three men. Three different responses. Two engaged, one not.
The man sitting on his phone was missing out.
Funny thing is this: he looked “normal” on the outside.
Normal body. Normal mind.
The two men engaged in worship had something “wrong” with their physical body.
But their focus was on God.
The absence of conflict creates complacency.
When our bodies function, our minds work, and we sit in relative comfort, it’s easy to rely on ourselves.
Why would we need God?
But when life isn’t perfect, or causes us to say ouch, back we rely on Him and His provision.
Let’s keep our focus fixed on God, in good times and bad.
Let’s fully rely on Him, instead of our incapable selves.
Let’s follow the example of the men, who embraced worshipping God, no matter what.
My book releases on Tuesday. Epic event in the short life of me.
But I’m like the men who have something “wrong”.
My life has not been what I pictured.
But I’d rather have my scars, because I can witness to you the faithfulness of God.
Because of the choices of others, I can testify of the goodness of God even if.
Even if life sometimes says ouch, God is still sovereign. Good. He’s the calm amidst the storm.
Our testimonies are richer when we walk with God during life’s storms.
Just like the men who chose to worship even though they looked different, let’s also choose to worship God when life looks different.
God is and was and always will be on the throne of life. Embrace Him always with yours.
Photos by Zac Durant, Guillaume de Germain, Joel Muniz, Ben White, Stephanie Klepacki, & Luis Alberto Sánchez Terrones on Unsplash
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Slaps and Hugs
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13
Life can bring you stress or peace.
Stomach cringes or smiley fill up your bucket type of moments.
You know – slaps or hugs.
Do you have things you do every day you cannot stand?
Or have gotten really old?
Can you forget them?
If you’re honest, some of them you could.
You could throw away the plants that need water.
You could give away the dog.
You could get off that one committee.
You could stop being everyone’s maid.
Make a list.
Then decide if you can honestly stop any of them.
And if you still have some stomach cringing stressful “slap you downs” on your list, move them over to the hug side.
Now, what about your pick me ups? Your hugs? Things that make you smile?
Things in your life you would rather do for as long as humanly possible.
Picking up a book and becoming lost in the adventure.
Tickling the ivories as your fingers fly over the keys.
Lacing up your running shoes to take in a much needed breath of fresh air.
List what makes you smile.
Helps when you need that pick me up. That hug.
Now, remember your slaps you listed? The ones you need to keep in your short life?
Hopefully you moved them over to the good side. The side that makes you happy.
You know – your hugs.
What?
Yes. Change the focus, showing their positive side.
Watering my flowers? Boy, they sure are beautiful!
Creating healthy meals for my family? I am helping us stay our freshest and best, honoring our bodies God created.
Make sense? There’s a positive side to anything.
In our life, there are many stressors. Many slaps so to speak.
So don’t let it slap you down. Don’t let anything steal your peace.
Get rid of extra things you don’t need to bother with anymore.
But all the rest? Look at them in a positive light.
God gives you things. Use your talents and abilities to glorify Him.
And stop slapping yourself silly!
Photos by Andrew Neel, Joshua Clay, Ekaterina Shakharova, & Joice Kelly on Unsplash
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Looking Glass
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Ever look back at life, admiring it’s beauty?
Memories in the past can look perfect.
Our brains usually remember only the good.
In fact, often we glorify it. Our memories can even become glamorized to the point of embellishment.
At least they do when you compare yourself to today.
Grass was greener, yes?
Actually, it was full of weeds, too, just different kinds.
You complained back then, too, you just don’t remember.
Instead of comparing yesterday to today, concentrate on the good with both.
Yes, back then I had the snuggles of little ones, but now I have friendship.
Back then I looked forward to a few moments of peace and quiet.
Now I wish they’d come over more often.
Be happy with wherever you are in this short life.
Remember with fondness your yesterdays, but smile at your todays.
And as you anticipate your tomorrows, place all of your hope in God.
He will walk with you through it all.
The good, the bad, and even the ugly.
Photos by Ryan Parker, Alfonso Scarpa, Fred Moon, & il vano on Unsplash
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Yielding Ourselves
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Ephesians 6:10
Ever tried to stop doing something you know you shouldn’t?
Could be eating too much sugar, drowning your sorrows in alcohol, or spending way too much time scrolling through your phone.
Could even be your attitude or reaction when things don’t go your way.
Or choosing to listen only to yourself instead of others.
All of it points to placing, you guessed it – yourself on the throne instead of God, the One who created you and all things.
Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in our human lives.
Food, exercise, exhaustion, perfection, fear, anxiety, or pride.
Anything placed before Jesus can become a form of slavery as we feed that characteristic within ourselves instead of feeding our relationship with Jesus.
Some of those things are super great, like exercise or eating healthy.
But if that desire replaces your desire for God, then that desire has become a god to you, probably rooted in fear if you don’t perform exactly right.
We can only find victory over ourselves through Jesus.
Through Jesus’ peace and strength.
Love this poem from Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India in the early 1900’s:
Before the winds that blow decrease, teach me to dwell within Thy calm; before the pain passed in peace, give me, my God, to sing a psalm. Let me not lose the chance to prove the fullness of enabling love. O love of God, do this for me; maintain a constant victory.
Don’t you just love that phrase: maintain a constant victory.
A plea for God to not only win in our lives, but to keep winning.
Only happens when we yield ourselves over to God, who is infinately more capable than our sinful selves.
Lord, give us a portion of your sweet spirit, spilling out your life and love to others.
As life consumes us, help us to place You on the throne of our heart, wanting only what You want for us.
With You, we will have constant victory, even if we don’t see it.
Because You have already won. You are our constant victory.
Photos by Joshua Earle, Pablo Heimplatz, Guillaume de Germain, & Patrick Fore on Unsplash
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Hidden Treasure
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44
Can you imagine finding treasure, hiding it back up, and then buying where it lay with ALL of your money?
You’d have a guarantee of your return.
Immediate investment return.
Happened to me once on a very small scale.
I love thrift stores. Never know what you’ll find!
The ugliest piece of pottery ever created (can I get an amen?) or a replacement dish from a vintage set your grandmother collected.
Love to comb through their books as I regularly find pearls for my classroom library for about a dollar each.
Once, while looking through the books, I found some bibles.
Not unusual to see bibles, but something drew me to choose one.
Flipping through the pages, I briefly saw a hundred dollar bill nestled onto a page.
Thought to myself, “Did I just see that?”
Flipped back and yes, there it was, staring up at me.
A crisp hundred dollar bill.
Unnoticed.
I quickly closed the book and told the children we were buying this bible.
Bought it for a dollar with my treasure inside.
Unbelievable, yes?
There was no way to find the owner as thrift stores constantly have new stock.
Plus, it could have been there for years. Literally.
It wasn’t a particularly nice looking book. Very ordinary.
But it held a treasure.
But you know what’s even better?
Jesus. He has a treasure for us worth His very life.
It’s Himself. Not only His salvation, but freedom here on earth.
When you fully realize all Jesus has for you, you’ll forgo your former ways.
Your new treasure will be way more important as you’ll have peace, joy, and strength for each new day.
Jesus says the man sold everything joyfully. It was his choice and he was so happy about it.
Are you happy about what Jesus has done for you? I sure am.
His peace, wisdom, and strength far surpass anything I could ever do within my own self.
Seek God. Seek a personal relationship with God, who created all things.
When you finally see Him, you’ll joyfully submit your whole self to Him.
But unlike the man in the parable, you can share your treasure with those around you.
And if you’re ever at a thrift store, feel free to thumb through the Bibles.
I still do!
Photos by Jouwen Wang, Michael Dziedzic, Max Böttinger, & Kiwihug on Unsplash
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Order Your Steps
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
I was deeply reminded the other day of how God holds everything in His hands.
Yes, He gives us free choice, but He is ultimately in charge.
Of everything.
He allowed Adam and Eve to sin.
And us, too.
Because we sin, we become separated from God, who is holy.
Yet He always provides a way back to Him.
When we choose Him, He’ll even walk alongside us. If we’ll let Him.
Imagine that. Allowing God, who created all things, to walk beside us.
As if it should ever be our choice. But it is.
He desperately wants us, but on His terms – which is for us to freely choose Him.
No bullying or taking against our will.
Even Paul, I mean Saul, when he encountered God.
Paul could have chosen to say no to God.
He would’ve been blind the rest of his life, but he had a choice.
This brings me back to us.
Daily submitting and really giving everything to God.
All things.
Teeny tiny things like parking spots, ugly hair, or stubborn pounds.
Big huge things like wayward relationships, divorce, or death.
Everything else seems to fall in between.
Working on my book and launch party comes to mind.
God literally handed it to me through His faithfulness and mine.
But little anxious worrying thoughts have been popping into my mind.
Honestly, they’ve had the ability to take over, making me question my course.
But then God whispers into my ear, “Why are you even bothered about that? Remember My faithfulness, which will never run out. I’ve cleared My path for you. As you continue to walk with Me, I’ll have your back. Forever.”
That’s for you, too. Stop worrying. Like ever.
Worrying removes your focus from God’s truth, which is this: He will never leave us or forsake us.
He’s got big plans for all of us.
Allow Him to use you and enjoy letting Him take care of the details.
Because He holds everything, including you, in His capable hands.
Here is my video link from my interview yesterday! https://www.youtube.com/live/fxviofHPs2E?feature=share
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Remembering His Faithfulness
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:11-12
Do you remember?
Do you ponder all God has done for you?
All He has done for others?
Better yet, do you keep a record?
A journal of all His faithfulness?
I have one. It’s not great as I admittedly forget to write things down. Regularly.
But I’m going to get better. Way better.
One could write volumes each day, couldn’t we?
If only we could see what God sees.
What He protects us from.
What our prayers do in heaven.
What plans He has for us.
How near each day He really is to us.
We’d be in utter awe.
Jaw on the ground type thing.
Psalm 77 begins with crying out to the Lord.
He is troubled. So troubled he cannot speak.
His mind works, though. Sound familiar?
He begins to ask himself if God’s steadfast love has forever ceased?
He then sets his mind on God.
He decides to focus on God instead of his present misery.
On God’s promises and faithfulness.
He determines to remember and ponder what God has faithfully done for him and others.
He reminds himself God was always there, going before. Preparing the way.
While we cannot see God’s literal footprints, imagine them.
Picture God walking with you, sitting with you, watching over you while you slumber.
God wants to be your first thought when you wake and your last before you sleep.
If we had a glimpse into the spiritual realm, we’d never have anything before God. Ever.
God’s authority is here. As a Christian, live within His sovereign authority.
Ask Him for eyes to see all He does for you.
And choose to remember God’s faithfulness to you today and always.
That reminds me of my book.
Yes, I wrote a book. So excited!!!
Actually, God wrote a book for me. It’s a DAILY devotional for women taken straight from my blogs. 365 devotions. WOW, right?
It’s called Trusting God with Every Breath. Subtitle of my blog.
It’s a tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness to me. Written evidence. Now that I think about it, I do record His faithfulness.
Book is due September 5th. Hard to believe, although I’ve been working on it for over a year now. So much work, but so rewarding!
Anyhow, God is good. Even in the times of “if”, He still is. He’s got you and He’s got me. What more could we ever need?
Photos by Gui França, Naassom Azevedo, Jonathan Borba, & Aaron Burden on Unsplash
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My book! 🙂
Preorder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Trusting-God-Every-Breath-Devotions/dp/1424566142/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=trusting+god+with+every+breath&qid=1689979878&sr=8-1
Local? Having a launch party on 9.10 @ Stories Coffee on 114/Davenport from 1-3! See you there!
Amy Linnea 
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