My Jewish faith has always been central in my family.
I keep the laws, heading to the tabernacle when my sacrifice is due.
We’ve waited for the Messiah my whole life.
Actually for generations now.
Sometimes my condition takes over and I can think of nothing else.
Honestly, I feel so useless.
Always feeling tired, needing to run to the toilet.
My condition also makes me unclean.
So I feel ashamed. Constantly.
I know God can heal me. He just hasn’t yet.
Maybe He won’t. Maybe this will be the way I always live.
I need to accept that if indeed my life will remain the same.
God can still use me.
But I’m so tired. Tend to feel sorry for myself if I’m completely honest.
Where am I standing? I’m in the city streets.
Today is going to be different.
I’ve heard Jesus will be walking through town today.
Heard simply amazing things about Him.
Miracles. Healing. Acceptance.
I need to see Him. He can help me if I can get near enough to Him.
I can feel it in my heart.
I’ve been waiting in this heat for awhile now. I’m so tired.
But I must remain standing. For Him.
Oh, I see a large crowd coming. They are so joyful and loud!
I see Him. Jesus is here! I can recognize Him from His eyes.
He is looking so loving at all of us, the crowd pressing against Him.
Ok, here’s my chance. I’m going to reach out and touch just the edge of His garment. That’s all I need to do.
Wow. I did it! Thank you, God!
Do I feel any different? Possibly? Could it be?
Wait. Jesus has stopped walking.
He has turned around, eyes searching the crowd.
Now He’s speaking, wondering who touched Him.
His disciples are confused as there are many surrounding Him.
But Jesus keeps looking for me. I just know it.
His eyes find me and I step forward trembling. I confess what I did, falling at His feet.
Jesus reaches down and helps me to my feet.
He called me Daughter! And said my faith had made me whole!
My suffering is now finished and I am to go forth in peace.
My body instantly feels completely different. I really am whole!
I am crying like a baby. I am full of overflowing joy and love from this man who noticed me.
This famous man, Jesus, sought me out and noticed me.
Yes, my body is healed, but He also healed my heart.
My identity has changed from unclean to daughter of the Messiah.
I must tell everyone He has come! Our wait is over! Hallelujah!
What do you need from God today?
Do you have faith He will help you, too?
As a Christian, our identity is fixed into God’s family as daughters and sons of the Most High.
Your Father in heaven will fill you with love and peace to overflowing each and every day.
Go to Him like this woman, believing He will help you.
And He will.
Because He loves and notices you.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:20-22
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)
Do you find yourself surprised when our faith seems to be tested?
Really, are you ever surprised?
I am and I’m guessing you are, too.
But stop and think about something: Jesus allows trials to refine us.
To make us stronger. Finer. More solid.
Doesn’t that sound like a positive outcome?
Let’s flip it to the other side. The dark side.
Does the devil want to cancel you?
100%. If he can cancel you, you’re done. Finished. Don’t matter no more.
If the devil can succeed at tempting you to give up, he wins.
If you pass the test of faith from God, you win. And so does God.
Either way, it really doesn’t matter why you are entering a trial of whatever it is.
Matters how you come out on the other side.
Take God’s wisdom, love, grace, and mercy with you on the way.
Your maturing will enable you to face the next test with some of the answers.
After all, you’ll have one more detail of your life under your belt. A detail God orchestrated in your life.
Expect trials and tests. You’ve got the answers, so sit down and pass. With God’s help you will faithfully pass each time.
But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise. Mark 15:5
When Jesus was before Pilate, He answered some questions, but He did not give a speech, defending himself.
He didn’t dive into a tirade, justifying His actions.
Jesus knew what He needed to do, and said only what was necessary.
Do you talk too much? Often defend your honorable intentions?
Sometimes we do. Talk too much.
For example with children, we explain ourselves WAY too often. Yes, offer an appropriate explanation, but you never need to defend yourself as a parent.
Why? Because you are the parent. And your child is not. They are the child.
Glad we are on the same page now.
Children enjoy trapping adults into arguments. Children are pros at arguing and whining.
Some regularly win when they keep going, grating on parent’s nerves.
You know you can stop that, right?
Tell the child no. Your only words offered for their benefit will be “because I said so”.
Repeat yourself when they keep asking why.
Then put a stop to their tantrums. Walk away.
While interacting with children is only one example, we sometimes talk too much in other areas.
Work, phone calls, emails, social media, the list goes on and on.
Sometimes saying less is more. Better. In fact, superior.
Let’s practice quiet authority. Not saying every thought that pops into our brain.
Think things through before uttering a word, asking God to help you speak His words of life.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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. Hebrews 4:15-16
Jesus knows.
Jesus, who is God, the Creator of ALL things, understands.
Your weakness has sympathy with God.
Instead of shaming us, He understands.
He understands because He was human, walking our world, tempted with this and that.
Yet He did not sin.
Ever.
Having God literally sympathize with us for our weaknesses, is incredible.
Unique.
Precious.
But there’s more.
His understanding comes with a bonus, His strength.
When we are weak, God wants us to ask Him for help, because He actually will.
Do we deserve it?
Nope.
But Hebrews reminds us we must approach the undeserved throne of grace with confidence.
Instead of pointing His finger, condemning us while we are down, He opens His grace filled arms, waiting with armfuls of mercy.
Recognize your need for Him.
Repent for trying life within yourself alone.
Ask Him to fill you instead with Himself – His mercy and grace.
And purpose to try again, choosing to act within His strength alone, absent of yourself.
Yes, we will continue messing up, because we are sinful.
But we have God, who really knows how we feel, always sitting there, right by our side.
He’ll scoop out our crud, replacing it with His perfect self.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
Ever wonder why God takes it?
Our smelly stuff or sin, whatever you want to call it?
I bring it up, because it’s not His.
None of our smelly sin is His.
Never was, never will be.
Why does He choose to take it?
He is holy.
Pure.
Undefiled.
Author of all things.
Literally the Most High.
And yet He wants us.
Not only us, but our stuff.
Our messy lives.
Our problems.
Our very messed up selves.
He wants our unloving attitudes towards children who selfishly taunt us.
He wants our broken hearts, which yearn for uncomplicated stories.
He wants our problems, dripping with unforgiveness.
He wants all of us.
God, who is pure and void of any sin, wants us.
Unbelievable.
If you remember the Old Testament, there was attonment for sin.
God had rules.
But with Jesus, the transaction was paid.
And with that, God continues our relationship with Him.
Because He loves us.
He created us for love.
For relationship with Him.
I find it incredible that God, who is completely pure and undefiled, wants a relationship with us.
We, who bring complicated and messy problems to Him, are wanted by God.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
When all the noise is stripped away, what is your focus?
In the dark of night, what grips your soul?
Worry?
Dread?
Fear?
Or Jesus?
In this world, we will have trials.
But Jesus.
In this world, we will struggle.
But Jesus.
In this world, pain will come and go.
But Jesus.
Jesus has overcome the world and everything in it.
All our trials, struggles, and pain are piled at the foot of the cross.
What has removed your focus from Jesus?
Family?
Job?
Our country?
Jesus knows the beginning from the end.
What better to focus on then the author of all life?
Look at your mountain.
Now look again through Jesus.
Looks manageable now, doesn’t it?
Trials are real, but Jesus is bigger.
Struggles are exhausting, but Jesus is bigger.
Pain can be excruciating, but Jesus is bigger.
But Jesus.
Jesus is over, under, and beside all things.
All of the trials, struggles, and pain.
Refocus on Jesus, purposing only to trust Him with everything.
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
Jesus was fully human and knew sorrow.
He wept with us.
He was filled with compassion.
Sorrow moved Him deeply.
Just like you and me.
Our weeping friends or loved ones move us deeply.
Sometimes we are the ones weeping and others are moved to compassion for us.
Weeping signals sorrow.
That something is deeply broken.
Wrong.
Needs to be fixed.
That’s when God moves in, if you’ll let Him.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“
Weeping can bring fear, as one usually cries when feeling alone.
Suddenly by themselves.
But God reminds us that He is with us.
We are NOT to be dismayed, because God is our God.
He promises not only to be with us, but to strengthen us.
He wants to help us, holding us up with His righteous right hand.
Weep.
But bring it to the feet of God.
Tell Him all of your sorrows.
He will listen, as a compassionate faithful friend.
And then He will take your sorrow, turning it into His peace.
Sometimes it takes time, especially if the wound is fresh.
But if you faithfully keep giving all of it to God, He will continually strengthen you, holding you upright with His righteous right hand.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 125:1-2
Jesus is our everything.
Our absolute everything.
Life will disappoint.
People, situations, even ourselves.
All will disappoint.
Instead, of anything else, just give me Jesus.
He is all that we need.
All we will ever need.
He will cover you with Himself.
When you are sad, He will cover you with His complete comfort.
When you are fearful, He will cover you with His perfect peace.
When you are angry, He will cover you with His tender love for others.
He will cover us, because He must.
He must cover us with His love and forgiveness.
Why?
Because we are sinful.
Selfish.
Thinking only of ourselves.
Jesus fills in the gaps others leave when they put us down.
Jesus fills in the gaps we leave when we put ourselves first.
Jesus fills in the gaping holes others leave whether intentional or not.
Jesus fills in the holes we give away when our selfishness overtakes our senses.
Jesus fills in everything.
He is our everything.
We are nothing without Him.
Thank you, Jesus, for covering us with Your forgiveness and love.
Continue to cover us every moment of every day as we choose to remain under You.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11
As our thoughts are focused on Jesus this Easter weekend, let’s think a moment on God’s power.
God created all things.
God (Jesus) lived on earth as a human.
Folks, He never sinned.
Even when hungry, He never snapped.
Even when tired, He still blessed others.
Even knowing how He was about to die, He still did.
For you and for me.
He allowed Himself to carry our sinful burdens to die in our place.
But He didn’t stay there.
He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death once and for all.
He healed.
He set people free physically, mentally, and spiritually.
And He’s sitting at the right hand of God Almighty, interceding for us each day.
That’s power.
Real God power, not fake movie power like Marvel or DC (sorry folks!).
But that same real power from God lives in us as Christians.
Romans 8:11 says so.
It says if God dwells in us (through the Holy Spirit), then God will give His life to our bodies as He lives within us.
God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will live within you.
I want that life surging through my veins.
How about you?
Ask Him.
Continue asking Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
Stop dragging your feet around in misery.
Stop focusing on all of the crud life has thrown your way.
Stop listening to Satan’s lies you know deep down are not true.
And focus on God.
He raised Jesus from the dead.
And He can raise you to life here on earth just the same.
But you must choose to rise up from your grave of sin, death, and destruction.
Fling off the dirty rags of self.
With God’s power, you will be set free to live for Him on earth.
Today, declare Jesus lives in me and I choose to focus on Him.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:2-3
Who is He to you?
Jesus.
Was He simply a nice guy?
Model of morality?
Or your King of Kings?
Savior of your soul?
Yes to all of the above.
Although, He was and is more than simply a nice guy.
Is He more than your King?
More than your Savior?
While that role is the most important, what about the here and now?
Is He your friend?
Your confidante?
Your comforter?
Your secure dwelling?
Jesus is so much more than the Savior of our wreched souls.
His role for when we die is the payor of our sins.
Completely paid for.
Miraculous.
His role for the here and now involves your everything.
He wants to be your heart’s cry.
He wants to be your first thought when you wake and your last as you close your eyes in rest.
And everything in between.
He wants to fill you with Himself so you can be His witness here on earth.
Taking other precious souls with you when death arrives.
Are you letting Him?
Letting Him be your everything?
If not, you’re missing out big time.
Allow Him to be within you, using your hands and feet to bless others.
Allow Him to bless others while you speak His words of life.
Surrender your life beyond asking Him to save your soul.
Saving your soul is the first step.
Very important, yes, but it’s not the whole package.
Allowing Him to work through you as you surrender every little thing to Him will yield not only happiness, but His perfect peace as you let fear, anxiety, and control fade away.
Simply ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
Talk to Him throughout the day.
Tell Him how you feel, what you need, and ask Him for His help.
His faithfulness will overwhelm you and His presence will comfort your precious self.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments. Psalm 103:17-18
Keep trusting.
Keep believing.
God has a plan and it is our only job to keep going, trusting and believing He will do what He has promised He will do.
You must remember how faithful God is to us, His beloved.
If you have forgotten, look through the Bible.
Look back into your life.
Notice again those moments He was faithful to you.
Inspect the lives of others and notice how very faithful God always is, even when you think He’s not.
When we have doubt, it’s because we don’t see God moving fast enough for us.
We don’t see evidence of our prayers immediate fruitfulness.
We don’t see the movement of God with our loved ones.
Those reactions are rooted in our flesh and not in the space of God.
God always hears your prayers.
And yes, they work, meaning He always hears them.
Your prayers matter.
You might not see the fruitfulness for years, but they still matter.
I understand wanting to see a sign from God, confirming the assignment of our prayers.
I’ll share mine.
I’ve been praying for the souls of my children.
While I know all 5 of them have faith deep down from their itty bitty childhood selves, their adolescent and young adult selves have not exhibited the faith they once had.
I’ve been asking God to surround them with godly friends.
To cover them with His peace, freedom, and the knowledge of His truth.
My youngest son’s life was recently spared from death.
His car was totaled on the interstate during an icy spell.
He came within inches of death and he knows it.
Thank you, Jesus, for your evidence of faithfulness.
He’s been reminded how precious life is.
His heart has been opened to God.
Both he and my eldest son have recently realized what a treasure our family is to them.
My oldest two daughters have shown care for others beyond themselves.
Restoration has happened on many levels within our family from the brokenness and ugliness of the world.
All of this possible only from the faithfulness of God.
Every morning, after inhaling my devotions, I seek the Lord for my family.
Today, God showed me He is working, even when I don’t see it.
That’s what faithfulness is – keeping the prayers flowing even when I don’t see it.
Even when you don’t see it.
Thank you, God, for allowing me to see a glimpse of what You are doing, how You are working.
May we all see evidence of Your faithfulness as we lift our families before Your throne.
And may You continue to run after our family with reckless abandon, bringing them into Your arms once again.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. Psalm 52:8-9
I cannot even imagine life without Jesus.
Living in absolute fear without the foundation of my all knowing God.
Not sharing my deepest fears with the One who already knows.
Not asking Him to remove my fear, replacing it with His complete peace.
I cannot imagine not having the eternal security of heaven because of Jesus’ death on the cross for my sins.
Imagine thinking about death without Him.
Death would be the end.
No more.
Imagine life without Him.
Life would be completely up to you and me…….and chance.
That would be too much pressure.
With my personality, I’d beat myself up for sure.
A lot.
I cannot imagine going through the valley of death without God’s perfect peace.
Walking in the shadow of death without God’s protection and presence would have been the end of me.
Even with God, life is no walk in the park.
But without Him in my life, all I can say is wow.
I cannot imagine life without my Savior.
Life would not be life.
It would be so materialistic and surface like.
I’m so thankful I don’t have to trust myself to get through life.
Not only to get through, but to succeed.
Thankfully, we don’t have to imagine life without God.
God is here.
He has been, is, and always will be.
Forever and ever.
There is no life without Him, there was no life without Him and there will be no life without Him.
Can I get an amen? 🙂
Guess what?
We never have to imagine a world without Jesus, unless we choose to.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus is asking you to come to Him, giving Him your burdens.
Reading further, Jesus is asking you to come to Him, giving Him your burdens.
In exchange, He will give you rest.
Rest.
But you must come unto Him.
Boiling it down to one word, it’s an imperative command.
Not a statement or a question, but an action.
An action required of your own free will.
Jesus cannot drag you.
Your friend cannot drag you.
Your parents cannot make you.
You must come to Jesus on your own.
If you go to Him, giving Him everything, He will give you rest.
He will enable your mind to be full of Himself.
Full of peace.
It’s so easy to tell Him, “Later”.
But later always becomes much later, or maybe even never.
Why don’t we go to Him?
Because we want our way.
We want our foul mood.
It all points back to self.
God wants to make you a better version of yourself.
A way better version.
Superior, in fact, to anything you can come up with on your own.
When you go to Him, He will change you.
He will change your desires into wanting what He wants.
Continually go to Him.
On a daily basis.
Every time you find yourself in a less than stellar situation, go to Him.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:14-15
When you think about what Jesus died for…
All that He died for, what do you think about?
Big bad sins?
Like cold blood murder?
Armed robbery?
Abortion?
Drunkenness?
Or smaller sins?
Like selfishness?
Snide remarks?
Envy or jealously?
Or, gulp, pride?
The Bible says a sin is a sin.
Meaning, all sins are equal before God as they are all not from Him.
In fact, sin is the opposite of His holiness.
Sometimes we think we don’t need God as much as that guy over there.
The guy who committed the bigger sin.
Once we think that, our pride sins and once again, we need the forgiveness of God.
When Jesus died for our sins, OUR sins, He died for all of them.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I know live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Jesus died for our choices.
All of them.
He died for our attitudes.
The good, the bad, even the ugly.
He died for our selfishness.
Every single bit of it is covered by Him.
By His holiness.
He died for our pain.
He died for our tears.
Good and bad, He paid for it all.
In full.
Completely.
Redemption will come when we die, but folks, it actually begins now.
As you lay your burdens down at His cross, Jesus takes them as His.
He takes them upon Himself.
He literally takes your burdens and sins as His own.
He takes it all, exchanging them for redemption.
Exchanging them for His peace.
His perfect peace.
His death provides a relationship here and now.
A real relationship with Jesus.
More than spending eternity with Him, Jesus wants His death to bring you to Himself here on earth.
When He died, the veil between heaven and earth was torn forever.
Originally, He created you for a relationship with Him.
Remember the Garden of Eden?
God talked with Adam and Eve every day.
Sin marred that forever, but Jesus’ death cancelled sin’s debt.
Jesus can now be as close as you want.
Or as far as you want.
Remember, He give us our own choice.
He wants your trust for eternity, but also your trust for today.
And tomorrow.
He wants to fill you with His perfect peace.
As you meet Him at the cross before glorious Easter morning, leave your burdens.
Let Him take them completely away.
And receive His peace.
Surrender yourself, allowing Him to fill you with His new life here and now.
Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23
I’ve come to realize something.
We are all alone.
Yes, we might have a spouse or children if we’re adults.
We have parents, friends, maybe even a best friend.
But ultimately, we are alone.
We stand all by ourselves.
Our spouse might have other loyalties.
Our children grow up and move away.
Our friends choose others with whom to spend their time.
Our parents love us but have their own lives.
Ultimately we are alone.
Someday, we will stand alone before God.
Giving account for our life.
On that day, Jesus will step in for us.
He will show payment for our sins.
He will if we trust in Him.
If we trust in Him for our very salvation.
He will step in for us on judgement day, but He has already stepped into your life.
He has already joined you here in this life.
Here.
So you’re not alone.
Psalm 73:23-26 says Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand.
Jesus is always with us.
He holds us by our right hands.
Psalm 23:4 reminds us Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Walking through dark times, or even daily life, we do not fear.
We do not feel lonely.
Why?
Because God, Jesus, is with us.
With us.
While you feel alone, you are not.
You might feel lonely, but you are not.
Feelings are not accurate.
Facts are.
And the facts are this: God is always with you; you are never alone.
Remind yourself that God, who created ALL things, is with you.
He cares.
He knows.
He loves you.
You.
And that, my friend, is why you are never truly alone.
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
She sat perched on the edge of her bed.
Deep in thought.
Lost, really.
Stuck.
Her mind wandered so easily from truth to lies, that it was all muddled together.
Nothing seemed to make much sense anymore.
Deep down, she knew the truth of who she was.
Yet, somehow, she had denied it’s truth.
Instead of allowing God’s truth to heal every inch of herself, clinging to the lies had poisoned her still.
That leads us back to the girl sitting on her bed, lost.
A Christian girl, mind you.
Someone who, from a very young age, has trusted God, knowing His truth.
Looking further into her room, there is something behind her.
A dark presence.
And it’s smiling.
Or maybe sneering.
It’s whispering into her ear, causing tears on her face to fall.
How is this possible?
Satan is sly, wanting to make all of us miserable.
Even lonely, sad girls.
While watching this unhappy scene unfold, all of a sudden, a light appeared.
A strong, warrior-like being appeared, declaring, “Enough.”
With that, the dark presence immediately fled.
The girl’s tears ceased and a tiny smile broke out upon her face.
Out loud, she whispered, “Thank you, Jesus.”
The warrior, putting His arm around her, answered her.
“You’re welcome, my child. Next time you feel anxious by a thought, identify it as a lie straight from the pit. Refuse it and speak life into your mind through My Name. And never forget how much you matter to Me. I am always a whisper away.”
Peace, I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
Jesus was human.
Fully God, yet chose to be human.
There are many things we could talk about, but let’s concentrate on peace.
Jesus was the epitome of peace.
In the Bible, do you see Him distressing ever?
In the Garden of Gethsemane?
On the boat in the storm?
When Lazarus died?
Serving lunch with 4 loaves and 2 fish?
Or was it 4 fish and 2 loaves?
Doesn’t matter as it wasn’t enough for just His disciples and him!
John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Through all of that and more, Jesus was not distressed.
Not panicked.
His face was undisturbed.
Look at His face when you lack peace.
Remind yourself He is in control.
Empty yourself of inward-focus.
And focus on Him.
Focus on His undisturbed self.
If God, who created all things and knows all things, is undisturbed, why on earth are you?
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
“If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient.” Oswald Chambers
Unpacking this, there is so much to see.
If God places you anywhere (and He does, because He is sovereign over all), He is completely and totally enough to cover all of your fears and anxieties, washing your mind with His peace.
Completely and totally enough to cover it all.
Even those fears you harbor deep inside.
He is enough, washing your mind with His peace.
If God places your hands to work, He is more than enough, helping you not only survive, but thrive.
If God places you at home with your less than appreciative child, His love for you will cover the gaps, filling your heart with Him.
If God places you in a hospital, caring for a loved one, His care for you will shine through your care of that loved one.
If God places you in front of a large crowd, your voice will carry His message to others, speaking to their very souls.
If God places you somewhere to stand up for His name, His strength will carry you securely onto the wings of His safety and love.
If God calls you to live without your spouse, His care for you will cover all of the holes left behind.
If God calls you to mother or father children who have grown in your heart alone, His grace will marry the lines between parent and child.
When God places you, His child, in any situation, He will be enough.
He is enough.
He will do all this and more if you place your trust in Him, wanting to mirror His likeness.
To be His hands and feet.
To shut yourself down, pouring out His life instead.
Shutting yourself down doesn’t mean you become nothing.
It’s the opposite, really.
Shutting yourself down means turning off your selfish ways and pouring out God.
God, who loves all of us so very much.
Remember Whose you are.
Remember what that means.
That when He places you in life, He is more than enough.
Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
What if I told you there is a Friend who knows your name?
Not only your name, but every thought you’ve had, every tear you’ve shed, every smile you’ve given?
Who longs to be your first confidant and constant lifelong companion?
What if I told you there is a Provider who will meet your every need?
Who longs to shower you with blessings if you let Him?
Who will not only give you food to eat, but food for your parched and weary soul?
What if I told you there is a Comforter who hears every cry?
Whose heart breaks with yours, yearning to remove every one of your burdens, big or small?
What if I told you there is a Protector who carries all authority in heaven and on earth?
Who longs to stand not only at your physical door, but your mind as well, slaying giants seen and unseen?
What if I told you there is a Shepherd who wants to guide your every step, keeping it from slipping?
Who longs to gently steer your words, thoughts, and deeds towards life and not death?
What if I told you there is a Father who wants to give you everything you could ever possibly need?
Who longs to not only protect you, but love you unconditionally, providing you with wisdom, truth, and every good thing?
What if I told you His name is Jesus and all of it is real.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9
Faith.
What exactly is faith?
Believing.
Faith in God is believing in Him.
Believing He will do what He says.
That He knows best.
Believing He has our back.
That He is leading us down paths of goodness.
Abraham had faith.
Faith when God told him to sacrifice His only son whom he had waited his entire life for.
The son that held the promise of generations to follow.
Yet when God asked Abraham to sacrifice this only son, there was no hesitation.
Because Abraham had faith.
Absolute faith.
Do you?
Jesus had faith in God as well.
When the time came, Jesus asked that the cup would be removed.
But He ended his prayer with, “Not my will, but Thy will be done.”
Faith in God’s higher ways.
Jesus had perfect faith in His Father’s plan.
Explicit trust.
Do you?
It all boils down to Whom you believe in.
With who or what you place your faith.
We all have faith in something or someone.
Even the absence of faith is faith that nothing is there.
Will you place your faith in yourself?
You will fail and so will the rest of the world.
No one is perfect except God.
Or will you place your faith in the One who created all things?
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:1-3
I came today.
I came to see my Lord.
With me I brought the best spices I could afford to place upon His body.
I still cannot believe He died for us.
For me.
He gave His life for us.
He literally paid for my sins.
I owe Him my life.
I pause at the bottom of the hill, catching my breath.
My Lord and I had such wonderful talks.
He taught me so much.
So many truths.
He valued me like no one has ever valued me before.
He gave me hope.
Purpose.
And now He’s gone.
I can’t think about that as I am in a hurry to bring my spices to the tomb.
I cautiously approach, not wanting to unnecessarily disturb the guards.
Suddenly, I stop.
The tomb is open.
There are no guards.
Wait, what?
I run into the tomb, spilling the spices onto the floor.
His body is not here.
Where is it?
What have they done with it?
I look down.
His cloth is here.
But He isn’t.
I stand, dumbfounded and still.
Suddenly I remember His story.
The one about His resurrection.
Could it be?
No.
Yes?
I sink into a heap upon the floor.
Yes.
If Jesus said He would rise from the dead, then yes, He has.
But where is He?
Putting one foot in front of the other, I exit the tomb, searching the surrounding countryside with my eyes.
Peter, one of His disciples, runs up to me, so excited he can hardly breathe.
Catching his breath, he announces to me Jesus is not here, because HE HAS RISEN from the dead!
What?
Searching his eyes, I realize he is telling the truth!
I hurry with him to join the others in the upper room.
As we gather, the empty tomb is excitedly discussed .
Then, all of a sudden, there He is.
With us.
He is here with us in the room.
In the flesh.
Alive.
Jesus.
My Jesus.
He extends His hands to Thomas, who doubted from the beginning the entire story.
Thomas is instantly convicted, ashamed he ever doubted His Lord.
Filling with compassion, Jesus embraces Thomas and then all of us, one by one.
My Lord and My God is alive.
Fully alive.
Literally.
He has conquered sin and death once and for all.
Hallelujah!
I run from the room unable to contain myself, shouting to anyone who will hear, “Jesus is alive!”
This news is too good not to share.
Everyone needs to know.
Everyone.
And now you know.
You are reminded that Jesus, your sweet Savior, is alive.
Amy Linnea 
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