Take time for a healthy snack of Scripture for today:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind 1 Timothy 1:7.
What am I thinking?
Today, I make the choice to think on a good theme.
Join me?
Let’s water the seeds of faith within our soul and watch us grow in healthy mind and heart with increased hope, joy, and peace.
“Dear Lord, Today I pray to you, and perhaps others join in too, to ask that You would water the seed of faith that we have in our hearts. Increase our faith in You. Help us desire to know You more through our day. Today we give you more time than the weather, the news, and the amount of “likes” on our posts. In Jesus’s Name we pray, Amen.
I need thee every hour Stay thou nearby Temptations lose their power When thou art nigh
I need thee, oh, I need thee Every hour I need thee Oh, bless me now, my Savior I come to thee
An empty glove can’t move. But with a hand in it, the glove is fluid to move in marvelous ways.
What’s natural in human nature, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43), is evident all around.
But “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?” this is hard stuff in Matthew 5:44.
What if Jesus could sit with us this morning and have our ear and our whole heart for a bit: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous Matthew 43-45.
Is there evidence of God in Christ Jesus in us? Are we “children of our Father in heaven,” (Matthew 5:45).
Do we love those who love us? Naturally, yes. This is easy. The Bible tells us that even tax collectors do that.
But God calls us to impossible standards: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48.
There’s no way, nada. Especially if we’ve been deeply hurt, there is often no willingness.
We can’t naturally love our enemy. We’re much like the glove with no hand.
Jesus said multiple times, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believes” Mark 9:23.
“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27.
Who’s ready to believe big with me? Unity is what Jesus desires. Oneness of the Body of Christ, and salvation to the lost souls of the world.
Time is short. Jesus is coming back again.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—
I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the worldJohn 17:21-24.
I want to believe God to work miracles of unity that “the world will know” that God sent His Son, and see that God loves everyone. His desire is that all should know Him and receive Salvation and grace in His name.
I want to believe in a revival of love and forgiveness one person at a time.
This is big, but not too hard for God.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7
If I don’t have a heart willing to forgive, God sees and He understands the struggle. He’s been hurt more than any human being through all of time, as He laid His life down at the cross.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34.
How can we get to such a place?
“Christ in us is our hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
He rose from the dead. Jesus is alive.
Christ in me. . . my only hope to love in a “perfect” way.
The Potter adds the water of the Spirit and repairs dried-up clay to create a vessel fit for the Master’s use.
What’s impossible in ourselves, is possible in Him.
Let’s go to God for our “impossibles.” His hand in our empty gloves = possibility of amazing grace and His love spread in all dark places.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9-13.
“We pray dear Lord, ‘let there be peace and love on this earth, and let it begin with me. You are our only hope. Christ in us, our hope of glory.’ In Jesus Name, Amen.”
Today I was diagnosed with an invasive lobular, 5×7 cm- estrogen positive cancer tumor of the breast.
I have breast cancer.
In the evening, I opened my Bible to one of my favorite verses so I could see it on the page:
Jeremiah 33:3, Call unto Me and I will answer, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not of.
So, I decided to go off my Bible schedule and read Jeremiah today.
While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time:
“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name:
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’ Jeremiah 33:1-3.
The Bible tells us that “the word of the LORD came to him a second time.” I’m encouraged. Jeremiah heard these words not once, but twice, from the Creator of the Universe, the Most High God, the LORD:
“Call to me and I will answer you. . .”
“I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
My ears are open. It seems in great affliction, the heart is ready to hear. I kept reading:
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword in the fight with the Babylonians . . .
“ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security'”Jeremiah 33:4-6.
This was the word to Jeremiah concerning Judah and Israel, but on a day when you find out you have cancer and you open God’s word that speaks of a tearing down against an enemy,
This is good news to my heart. My soul found breath again.
I can trust God. If He can do this for Judah and Israel, I can believe God to heal me.
I need faith for this battle. The Word of God will help increase my faith.
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
“Dear Lord, I call to You. Show me great and mighty things through this trial. Give me understanding to Your Word. Help me believe! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD. 12
As our world enters a new decade, 2020, do we often feel like pilgrims in a foreign place?
Do our heart’s long for a homeland of peace and truth? Stepping up to hope for our upcoming year is found in our own personal, active worship to the LORD.
I won’t use the word god, because in this day, as in the Bible days, there were many gods among the people.
In ancient Israel, the people would travel in companies up to Jerusalem three times a year to worship the LORD, YHWH. They would sing pilgrim’s songs, marching songs to the true, eternal God, defined as the Creator of heaven and earth.
The songs are recorded for us in the Psalms of ascent.
The early steps of the journey, step by step, began with a company of singers proclaiming their heart.
Tell me, does your heart not cry out these phrases?
I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer. Rescue me, O Lord, from liars and from all deceitful people . . .
How I suffer in far-off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar. I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war! Psalm 120 NLT.
But as Christmas decorations get put away, in this new year of 2020, we must be diligent to keep our Jesus in full view, for this world is a battle zone.
“I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!”
Many words are spoken by the people and leaders around. But only God knows the heart of man.
Some words have been shoved aside because they’re offensive, but when someone has an invasive cancer, the attack is often bitter treatments. Our world is sick with a cancer.
The original word of this particular sickness, (which needs to be resurrected to make sense of this upside down world) is . . . sin.
The heart of people, all people, is deceitful. We are all prone to war in our minds. All have sin. (Romans 3:23).
None of us escape this condition, but thanks to the Lord, He gave us Jesus.
Where does our help come from?
Did we not sing the song this Christmas?
“Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled” Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With angelic hosts proclaim: “Christ is born in . . .
our hearts today?
Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Yes, we must lift our eyes and worship aloud. The heaven-born Prince of peace abides in a heart of praise. Do we need peace? Do we need light?
We must receive this Prince of Peace. We must believe He loves us and came to heal each of us individually.
This new year can we put sound to the words? Do we dare sing aloud the never aging words of hymns and psalms. We must receive in order to . . . receive:
Light and life to all He brings Ris’n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth
We live in a world that needs help, . . . one person at a time. Help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121.
The wise men came to worship the New-born King. Do we take time to worship Him. Do we go out of our way to give Him praise? This is a New Year. We will answer,
“Yes!”
“Thank You Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You Lord, for making me whole. Thank You Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free.”
God’s provision of the Babe come down to later die on the cross that Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled.”
We say, “Amen. Let it be in me.”
Jesus is our gift for each day of this new year.
Let’s worship the Prince of Peace, in the assembly of the congregation, stepping up with community that we might live with renewed courage every waking day.
Speak, sing, mumble, grown, to the LORD it’s glorious if it’s praise and adoration to Him, the Creator of heaven, earth, and the incredible life we see.
Our help comes from the LORD.
Yes, we lift up our voices exalt His great Name:
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever Psalm 121.
“Praise be to our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, forever.”
Every living human being on this planet is guilty. Go ahead and blame Adam and Eve, but we would have done the same thing if we were them.
We’re naturally rebellious. We all struggle with temptation and curiosity. Doesn’t the wisdom of the world always sound like it makes more sense than God’s Word?
Science and scholars convince themselves (and everyone else) that the Bible is only mythology and fables.
But, what we believe doesn’t change who God is, His story, or His Word.
The Bible tells us that Jesus died for liars.
He died for haters.
He died for adulterers and murderers.
Jesus faced nails hammered into His hands, the agony, ridicule, and shame of the cross for the hopeless.
I wonder if our denying Him hurts more than all His scars put together? The spit, the tearing out of His beard. The harsh words, the cruel behavior, the flogging, the whipping.
He didn’t say, “Forget it Father, these people aren’t worth dying for.”
Instead, when it was all said and done, moments before dying, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing . . . ” Luke 23:34.
Who can do this?
Jesus.
The human race is born spiritually blind and mute. Faith is the eye opener.
Do you know Jesus? Let an old hymn unlock Faith’s door:
I hear the Savior say, Thy strength indeed is small, child of weakness Watch and Pray- find in Me – thine all in all.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow!
He washed our stain of sin, white as snow. That’s why we make a big deal about Jesus. His power changes us when we ask forgiveness and believe in His name.
Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow’r and Thine alone, Can change the leper’s spots And melt the heart of stone.
A heart of stone made soft? Change from the inside out?
That’s what Jesus does. And He humbles us of pride:
For nothing good have I Where-by Thy grace to claim; I’ll wash my garments white In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Nothing good on my part, save believing on all He has done.
Jesus paid it all. He suffers long and waits. And when we receive Him, life everlasting is ours for the taking:
And when, before the throne, I stand in Him complete, “Jesus died my soul to save,” My lips shall still repeat.
