Inviting

We have a new year coming upon us.  Everyone seems eager to put 2020 behind them....all the difficulties, the pandemic, the deaths, the anger and division.  Worldwide we've struggled.  And many people I know have gone through personal sadness and tragedy as well.  It was a rough year all around.  With a new year brings new beginnings.  A vaccine is now being distributed, so hopefully this pandemic will come under control and be a item for the history books.  

For us as Christians, we can be assured of God's care, no matter what comes in the next year or the year after that or the year after that......We hope for a better 2021, but come what may, it is well with our souls.  

Usually our Father gives me a specific area in my walk to work on for the new upcoming year.  This year is a little different.  For the last month or so many things I've read and heard have focused on being in, inviting in and remaining in His Presence.  I've been reminded time and again that His Presence, the Lord's very being is always with me.  I think the Lord wants us to know, that He never leaves us nor forsakes us.  Whatever we face we are to remember this.  Whatever our circumstances, we are to ask Him into them. Know He is standing with us, focus on His Presence and be still, be comforted, be strengthened.  

We look to 2021 and hope for a better year, but the end times are upon us (I don't generally get involved with end time prophecy, pre trib, post trib, mid trib....figuring all that stuff out...I leave that to the scholars).  I do believe we are at least in the start of the end times, the birth pangs as Jesus called them.  And we know things will get very bad in the end.  Now is the time for us to grow in faith and remain mindful of the Lord's ever lasting Presence in our lives.  He wants us to know HE IS WITH US!  

Look to the Scripture for comfort, it is the Word, and Jesus is the Word.  Most of us have access to this beautiful book, these words of strength and comfort and promise.  His is with us!  Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear!  Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”    

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  Let's practice being in His Presence this upcoming year.  It is where we find our strength and joy.  Where we will find the faith and courage to face the trials of this world, or the personal struggles in our lives...It's His Presence where we find our peace and comfort.  

Lord, thank You for Your everlasting Presence.  Remind us of it daily, moment by moment.  Let Your Presence be so apparent to us, so real...Let it keep us in peace as we face uncertain times.  Let it be our strength as we stand against sin, looking to overcome our own failings.  Let it be our guide, the voice that tells us which way to go, directing our steps...Lord, we so often run through life forgetting Your beautiful Presence....we get caught up in the day to day grind.  Help us in this area Lord, help us to be mindful and open.  Please bless each person reading this in the new year Lord,  Let them have a season of growing faith, joyful hearts and blessed circumstances.  Lord, You know each heart, each need, each life....Meet each reader where they are and do Your mighty work in their hearts and lives.  And mine too!  Show us the way to go in 2021.  Thank You for all You do, for all Your are doing and for the love which never fails.  In Jesus' mighty and very present name.  Amen.  

Happy New Year.  Enjoy your celebrations!  

Merry Christmas!

M E R R Y 

C H R I S T M A S ! !

  

I pray everyone has a beautiful Christmas and welcomes the Presence of the Lord into their day.  He came for each of us.  What an amazing gift!  Thank You Lord!  Thank Your Father for Your incredible plan.  Thank You Jesus for Your obedience and love.  Thank You Holy Spirit for opening our hearts to receive the blessing of Christmas.  Hallelujah!  Amen.

Christmas is almost here.  And it's a weird kind of Christmas this year.  Family gatherings that usually take place are not happening.  Many people have lost mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, children and other loved ones.  COVID19 has run rampant for almost a year now.  There's loneliness and heartache around many tables.   Add this to normal sadness that happens to many around the holidays when they feel empty or left out of the celebrations.  It can seem bleak and overwhelming.  But this truth still stands.  The Lord remains the same.  He remains with us, our Emmanuel.  His love still loves.  This song so touched my heart as a reminder that we are never unloved, never truly alone.  That even in the darkest days on earth, we have our Lord who sees and stays.  

 

If you are hurting this holiday, know I am praying for you to find comfort in the arms of our Savior.  He came from heavens glory to a dusty stable for you.  You were on His mind when He left heaven.  You were to reason, I was the reason, all of us...His love for you and I compelled Him to come.  He loves you that much.  You are worthy of that love because you are His creation.  Even if we have no other family or friends to spend the day with, the Lord would love our company.  

Lord, lift the head and heart of those who are hurting this Christmas.  Let them feel You Presence and Your love.  Give them the gift of hope. Bring Your healing to their lives, to their souls.  You know the struggles each or us face, our brokenness, our deepest needs...Reach out and touch lives exactly where You know will bring Your peace, healing and wholeness.  Thank You for coming.  Thank You for loving us.  Our most precious Emmanuel.  We love You.  

Rejoice

After I finished Tuesday's entry I got up and got going on my to dos for the day.  Some grocery shopping was on that list.  We were expecting a storm and running short on quite a few things, so I thought going sooner rather than later was a good idea.  Amazingly the store wasn't too crowded and I got in and out pretty quick, which was good since I had a few other things on the "list" before I had to go to work.

I love watching the way the Lord works  I love how He plants little gifts in our days.  And He did just that during my trip to the grocery stores.   And I love how He confirms His message.  There was a car that was parked two cars away from me with a window decal that hammered home the Lord's instruction on joy. 

Note the big circled word in the center.  REJOICE.  Can I get a few exclamation points here?  LOL. Even if this life offers nothing but difficulty (and some days sure feel like that), the Kingdom of Heaven is always at hand, and Christ's Presence is always surrounding us, and Heaven is our destination.  There is always reason to rejoice.  John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

It's amazing how the Lord can take something as average and mundane as an everyday shopping trip and turn it into a beautiful God visit blessing.   

Thank You Lord for Your gifts of love.  You scatter them throughout our day, giving us glimpses into You heart.  I so appreciate how You reach into our days, how Your hand touches even the mundane, just to bless and care for us.  You are an encouraging Father, a loving Savior and a totally involved Presence in our lives.  Help us to keep our eyes open and our faith believing so we may be blessed and rest in Your care.  In Jesus loving Name.  Amen. 

Look for the Lord's gifts today.  

Joy

I feel like I've lost my joy.  Things I used to love and that filled me with pleasure have become another "to do."  When I am creating the bulletin boards for church or taking care of the kitties at the animal shelter I feel like it's another thing to check off my list of "need to get done."  This makes me very sad.  And makes me feel very guilty.  It feels like so much of life is chores and problems, that the things I once loved are getting pushed out by a feeling of being overwhelmed and my heart is filling with anger and tiredness.  

And in steps the Lord!  In addition to the beautiful birthday verses He gave to me, with the onset of Advent, joy has been front and center in His "talks" to me.  

One of the verses in my Pastor's Sunday sermon was Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  One of the ways to keep my energy level up is to remain joyful, for in that joy is strength that comes for the Lord.  Oh, but how to do that when one feels like their strength is fading and the lists gets longer and the problems loom larger.  

I've heard several times over the last couple of weeks that joy is a choice.  Huh.  Tough one.  I need to take responsibility and choose to be joyful.  I need to bring my mind into alignment with Scripture and choose to let contentment rule my heart.  In the words spoken by Nehemiah we see him giving the Israelites instructions to do something.  They are told to go enjoy themselves.  Do something fun.  And they are also told to take care of others, those who don't have or are in need.  Maybe we need a little more fun and a little more giving in our lives.  

In talking with the Lord about all this, I felt Him telling me that this can be a season of growth for me.  It's time for me to choose hope, peace, joy and love.  It's time to stop letting my circumstances and my emotions dictate my time and my demeanor.  It's time to invite Jesus into all my circumstances, all my moments, all my thoughts....It's time to remember I am in His Presence always.  And there is joy in His Presence.  Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Since I am in this season of growth, Satan has stepped up his attack on my home.  We have squirrels in the attic, holes in the roof...which by the way needs replacing, extreme workloads, more physical problems....all while looking at our retirement years coming on quickly, and having to prepare for all of that.  So I want to warn everyone, if you decide to go forward with this choosing joy, you will be tested.  I've heard Joyce Meyer say, "New level, new devil."  But I also know it will be so worth it to follow the Holy Spirit's lead.  No turning back!!  

Lord, I am hoping that in sharing my life and heart here, that others will see themselves and see there is hope...that we can live with joy, peace, hope and love.  I am hoping that like me, they will learn, and it is a learning process that takes practice, to choose the joy that comes from You alone.  Your Word is our remedy.  Help us to choose correctly!  Be our strength, our guide, our reminder, our joy giver.  Thank You for Your teaching.  Thank Your for Your Presence.  Your are an amazingly great and intimate God.  There is none like You!  How blessed are those who are called Your children!  Hallelujah!!  

Choose joy.  Choose to invite Jesus into all of your moments today.

Psalm 13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?  How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?  3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  6 I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Another Verse, Perfect Fit

Tuesday I wrote about one of the verses the Lord gave me for my birthday.  He also gave another one that I think fits perfectly together with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I was working on a project for church a couple of days ago.  And I was getting very frustrated.  I have this desire to be sooooo organized.  I crave it, need it, want it with everything in me.  But I do not have the ability.  I try.  I really do.  Then I try some more.  And then I get frustrated, stressed and all the joy of what I am doing leaves my heart.  When I cannot organize, I get lost and confused, things fall through the cracks....And I do want what I'm doing to be done correctly and be a blessing and bring joy to others.  So as I sat on my floor, forgetting all those great verses the Lord gave me over the last few days, and I just got frustrated.  And complainy.  And joyless.  

And then the Lord reminded me to come to Him, to pray about what I was doing, to let the perfectionism go, and just enjoy being a blessing.  And He reminded me as I sat here, that I am to let Him shine in my weakness, whether it's my struggle with organization or my allowing emotions to get the better of me.  My first step is to come to Him in prayer....as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Pray!  Give thanks! And then let God's strength come through.  And then the joy of the Lord will flow where before anger was threatening to overtake.  

Lord, thank You for Your Word.  our strength, our guide, our peace, our everything.  Help us to follow it.  I thank You for the desire that I have to want to follow....Lord help me and all of us with the ability part!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Pray without ceasing.  

New Verse!

Each year on my Birthday I like to find a new verse to focus on for the next year.  Now, I don't do it perfectly, not by a long shot...I forget about it for a while, lose focus, don't follow it....but I can remember it sometimes and focus on it sometimes and follow it sometimes, so I consider that a plus and progress!  It's more than I was doing before.  

Sometimes I get these verses from a devotional or a sermon.  Sometimes I hear them on the radio or see them on social media.  However they come I know it when I see it!  The Holy Spirit quickens it to my heart like a neon arrow pointing, "Look here!  This way!"  This year it was both a sermon and a podcast teaching...a double hit on the same verse, so I know it's God knocking loudly on my heart to pay attention.  

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Now the Lord gave me quite a few verses this year for my Birthday...but this is the only one that was given twice.  My fervent desire is to put it into practice immediately!  Perfectly!  Completely!  Well, that's my plan but, I'm sure the Lord has another timeline, and a step by step process.  LOL  I imagine that old fruit of the Spirit known as "patience" will be needed.  But I commit to working on it, with the Lord's help, knowing that in my weakness He is shown as strong.  His power will be made perfect in my inability to change myself.  

Lord, thank You for this verse.  I pray we all learn to live it out.  And in living it out we will be in constant communion with You.  Lord, You know my weakness, You know my failures, You know my heart....please help me and all of us to glorify You, to obey Your leading and to hide Your Word in our hearts so that it may bear fruit in our lives.  In Jesus' precious Name.  Amen. 

Find your verse!  

Tired

I'm tired.  This week has been especially exhausting in every way.  Physically, it's Christmas at the Post Office.  That means non stop movement.  Add to that the stress of extra work, no help, uncooperative bosses, constant lack of space, broken equipment that nobody seems to want or be able to fix...Add in my failures, my fall into anger and bad attitude-ism which pile on guilt (You know, the "You're a Christian, and supposed to stay sweet and calm in all situations, be a good witness" guilt that comes from not living up to that ideal).  Top that off with the rest of life.  You know, all the stuff that comes with that...broken appliances, air leaking tires (because who has time to get it fixed), difficult relationships, a to do list a mile long. On and on life batters this weary soul.   I'm sure there are a whole lot of us weary souls out there!  A multitude who can relate to this battle worn feeling!  

So I woke up this morning as tired as when I went to bed.  My body hurting from all the physical overuse at work.  I said God, I'm just tired.  I can't even pray.  I started to cry.  I'm just empty and worn.  And then the Lord sent His Word to my heart.  Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  How much comfort I find in the verse.  I don't even have to know how to pray this morning.  I don't have to muster the energy to do so.  The Lord sees my heart. He sees the weakness, the sadness, and the anger that swirls around and feels like it's burying me.  He sends His Word and love like a rescue boat in a raging sea.  

Thank You Lord.  You don't leave or forsake us.  Even when we feel as low as we can possibly feel, You are there.  You love us and will hear our hearts cry even when there are no words.  The Holy Spirit speaks our needs before Your throne....needs we don't even know are there, but that we feel the burden of, the heaviness weighing down our steps.  You are the lifter of our head, our mighty rescue.  Fill us with Your peace that goes beyond our understanding, even if nothing in life changes.  Lord, help us to not give our peace away.  Help us to hang onto it for dear life.  You know, we are battered, worn and fragile.  You know some days just taking the next step feels impossible....Help us.  Help us..  Jesus  Jesus Jesus.  

God hears.  He stays.  He loves.  

Our Amazing God of Hope

 

After I did my entry  this morning I set out to get some exercise.  And in my travels around the neighborhood this is what I came across.  God visit!!  LOL  

Hope Confusion

Last week's December readings for our Sunday sermons focused on HOPE.  The Bible talks of hope a lot.  Verse after verse after verse refers to our assured hope in our Savior and our God.   Ephesians 1:18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.  Ephesians 4:4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.  Colossians 1:4-5 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,  which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.  On and on and on goes hope.

Now, when I read these verses, I get a little confused.  When I think of hope, I think of a "maybe."  For example, "I hope we have good weather for the picnic."  Or, "I hope I get we make it safely to our destination."   It's not a sure thing.  The picnic could be rained out and the car could break down causing our trip to be delayed or canceled.  But when the Bible talks of hope, it is putting hope in sure things.  We are told in 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.  All the promises we have in Christ are assured.  They are a reality, albeit, in some instances, a reality yet to come.  So how do we "hope" in God's promises when we know they are a sure thing?  Isn't that knowing, not hoping?

I've had this bit of confusion for a long time.  LOL  And finally, as I was reading the daily passages last week, the Lord explained it.  The world's hope is a maybe.  The Lord's hope is a definite.  They are simply two different kinds of hope.  Now, I know most people may have figured this out long ago....but I guess I just took a little longer to get there.  LOL  Two different kinds of hope!  Wow, who knew!!  

The Bible gets hope from the Greek words elpizo/elpis.  And the meaning behind these words is to expect, trust, anticipate with pleasure or confidence.   When I look in the dictionary it says "the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.  to believe, desire, or trust:  to feel that something desired may happen."  But they also have an archaic definition which is "to place trust; rely (usually followed by in)."  Our hope in our God is a trust and reliance...it's a confidence.  The worldly hope seems to have come to mean "I wish" for something.  I like the Biblical definition of hope better! 

How comforting is this hope we have?  How wonderful is our Lord?  He gives us this hope, He is worthy of our reliance and trust.  Our hope will not disappoint when it is placed in Him!  There is no "I wish." in His Word.  There is no "maybe."  All His promises are yes and amen!  We can rest in that hope.  

Lord, let Your hope bring peace to our hearts, and confidence to our spirits.  Help us to overcome discouragement with the hope that is in Jesus our Savior.  Hallelujah!  It is finished....our hope is complete in Jesus.  Amen and amen!

Rest in the hope of Christ.  If discouragement is knocking on the door of your heart, dig into the hope that we have in Jesus.  Hide there.  He is our Rock.