Just yesterday, as I was doing a devotional I got to thinking about my "tapestry." I've heard the analogy of our lives being compared to a tapestry of which we only see the messy bottom. The strings are hanging down, we see no discernable pattern or picture. It probably even looks like a disaster to us. Dark threads abound, we see only the ugly underside...what the heck could that possibly become!?!
But on the other side of this tapestry is the Master Artist. Our heavenly Father. He is weaving and arranging and placing colors just so. He has a plan and a picture in mind. He is deliberate and focused.
The devotional I was reading was on controlling the tongue. And I was thinking to myself, boy does my mouth add a lot of dark threads to my tapestry. LOL My mind started going down the road of how so many people will have these tapestries full of light colored threads, while mine will be medium to dark, with some bright spots here and there. And then I felt God "tell" me that the bright stands out against the darkness.
Fast forward to today's worship devotional in "31 Days of Praise" by Ruth Myers. In it Ruth talked about how God even uses our failures and imperfections, our mistakes, sins, messes...the things we do wrong and the wrongs done to us, and weaves them into the most beautiful of designs in order to bring glory to His Name. Total God visit for me!
Do we then say, "Oops, I sinned again. No worries, God will use it." Of course not. Paul tells us in Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. We continue to work with the Holy Spirit to overcome the sin we the Bible tells us we are dead to.
But going into the pit of guilt and shame every time we sin is not God's plan either. In 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are forgiven. God knows us, knows what makes us tick, who we are, and how we came to be what we are. He knows what it takes to "fix" us and has the timing and circumstances, lessons and leadings all set up to do just that. And all of it put together will result in a life beautifully lived for Him....if we let Him. Our job is to keep moving forward, keep holding onto our Lord and keep striving to become who He wants us to be. Stay in His Word! I cannot stress this enough. Don't give up!! Philippians 3:12 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Philippians 2:12-13 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
God works in us, and uses everything in our lives for His purpose. Maybe our mistakes and failures are what He uses to draw another mess to Himself. They see that God is fixing us, working with and loving us and think, "Yeah, maybe He can help me too." Be honest about your mess! It may help someone else!.
Lord, help us to see ourselves as You do. You see us through Jesus, as pure and holy in Your eyes. You see us through eyes of love and patience. You see the finished masterpiece that we are becoming. Do the work in us and let us not despise the small beginnings, the little victories and the baby steps we take towards becoming more and more like Jesus. Romans 8:28-29 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. We rejoice that You use all things, good and bad, to make us more like Jesus. Help us to keep going forward with You. I do pray that You keep us from sin, but I also thank You for Your forgiveness when we fail. You are an awesome God. And we love You. In our Savior's Name. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Stay connected to Jesus. Stay in the Word, in prayer, thanksgiving and worship.
In our study of John at Bible Study Fellowship our attention has been drawn to empty jars twice. The first time being the empty jars at the wedding feast in Cana. (John 2:1-11). The second time was the empty jar left by the Samaritan woman at the well. (John 4:1-30) What's with all these empty jars?!?
I have to say, I've never taken much notice of them. I mean in the wedding feast story, I've seen them since they are pointed out, but never have I taken noticed the jar left alongside the well in the story of the Samaritan woman. But yet it's right there in John 4:28.
And there is another set of empty jars we are told of in the Bible. Way back in 2 Kings 4 where we are told about Elisha and prophets widow.
I've been thinking about these empty jars for a few days now and I believe the Lord is speaking an analogy to my heart regarding the emptying of self and the filling of new life by Jesus Christ. In two of these examples the jars were supernaturally filled by God. In the other example, God supernaturally filled a heart.
In the case of the woman at the well, we see the ultimate filling, the real filling of a human heart with the new life promised through Jesus Christ. She completely left her old empty jar and excitedly ran to tell the good news she had heard from Jesus. Jesus tells us in John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." New water. New life, overflowing, spilling everywhere we go.
At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus transforms water that had been poured into previously empty jars into top of the line wine. Wine was a symbol of joy in the Bible. It is the Lord that fills us with joy. John 15:11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! How many beautiful blessings from God can we count that will fill up our hearts with joy? Starting with God and salvation itself, the list goes on and on.
In the case of Elisha and the prophet's widow crying out for provision: She and her son had nothing and were on the brink of being sold into slavery. Much like our condition before we have an encounter with God and let Him fill our lives. (We are slaves to sin until He sets us free). In this case God filled the jars with oil. Vessel after vessel, she continued to fill with oil from the first jar...a seemingly an unending supply of provision. And that is our God. His anointing and provision never ends when we start with a heart that is empty of everything. A heart that is open to being filled by Him and not the world.
As we work with the Holy Spirit to empty ourselves of selfishness, pride, worldliness, He fills us more and more with Himself, with His limitless love. We grow closer to God when we have less of the world in our jar. 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. The more God fills us the more we are ...being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) How utterly amazing what our Father can do with some empty jars!
Lord, thank You for You!! You are amazing and wonderful, miracle working, glorious and go beyond anything we can imagine when we submit ourselves to You. Fill our empty jars with Your love and power and holiness. Anoint us with the oil of Your Spirit and use us for Your glory. Let Your unlimited love spill out wherever we go. Father, some times we hold on to the gunk at the bottom of our jars. The anger, unforgiveness, needs, bitterness, etc....Help us to empty ourselves completely before You. And then as You fill us, let us, with eagerness and joy tell all about Your loving grace and salvation. Fill us also with Your boldness and let us not shrink back from sharing how much You have done for us. It's in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
1 Peter 1:18-19 It was not with perishable things such as silver and gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
John 2:1-11 2 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” 11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him
John 4:1-30 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” 16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
2 Kings 4:1-7 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. 3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” 5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6 Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 7 When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”
All morning the song " Even if" by Mercy Me has been on my mind. It's running on repeat over and over so I'm figuring the Lord has something to say.
We all have those prayers that seem to never get an answer. I am struggling with that lately. Over the last week, I've seen some pretty dramatic and happy answers to pray. Healing, safety...all wonderful, and God provided answers to the prayers of His people. I've been happy dancing all week. But there are still a few things I need to see answers to that have been sitting for a short while. And there's my own ongoing battle with my heart which stubbornly seems stuck in an angry undercurrent for years that I desperately desire to see deliverance from.
I've been studying in the book of John and today's lesson focused on the woman at the well in chapter 4:1-26. How long this woman had been an outcast, desperately seeking something she couldn't name we have no idea. But I imagine it was quite a long time. And then Jesus.....
Jesus purposely, deliberately, against all tradition and custom, came seeking her. He came with her deliverance and redemption. He could have easily followed tradition and went around Samaria as was custom for Jews in that day. But instead He went through and like an arrow aimed at a bullseye, He hit his mark...one unnamed, shunned, lonely Samaritan woman.
We are that woman. How long do we live in our distresses? How long do we long for answers? How long are we searching, sometimes in the wrong places? Yet in His timing, Jesus comes in to meet us. This is were persistent faith comes in. It's in the waiting and the knowing that God acts in His own perfect time. And sometimes He doesn't act. At least in our eyes. It's in knowing that His heart is kind and He is for us that we can stand and keep moving forward. Can we in faith, say along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, "O Nebuchadnezzer, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will recue us from your power, Your Majesty.. But even if He doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."Can we say, that no matter what, we will have faith in our Lord, and not bow down to unbelief or fear or bitterness?
So that's where I am today, and that's where this song comes in. I will trust God, with or without answers. With or without change. I will trust in Him!
Lord, thank You that You are a God who we can trust completely. You always work things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. Help my unbelief! In the waiting let us be active in believing, in serving, in worship and in thanksgiving. And maintaining a good attitude! Be our focus and our strong tower each moment. In Jesus' most precious Name. Amen
John 4:1-26 4 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
Daniel 3:1-30 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” 7 So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 10 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 11 That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” 19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. 24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. 25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.
It's been a while. My computer had broken and had to be sent to for repair. Subsequently it was lost enroute to the repair center. Weeks of back and forth with the repair company ensued and I ended up with a new computer since that old one has apparently been thrown into the atmosphere somewhere never to be seen again.
Something that is on my heart this morning is "new life." Acts 2:24 But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip.
What feels dead in your life? A job, a marriage, other relationship, your walk with God, your heart? Jesus conquered death. Physical death. Those who call Him Lord and Savior will be raised again to new life when they close their eyes to this world for the last time. But He also has brings life to our lives right now. John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. Other translations call this "abundant life." John 1:4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. Jesus gives life...now and for eternity.
Sometimes I think we forget this. Sometimes I think it's easier not to grab hold and walk in this life Jesus brings. It's easier to stay in our pits, our messes, our deadness than to walk out of our prisons and into the freedom Jesus offers. Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is fromEzekiel 37:1-4
37 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” 4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’” 10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. 11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Did you notice this is a process? Did you notice that Ezekiel had a part to play in this? God gave him an assignment. What is God asking you to do to work with Him to bring new life to you dead zones? Ezekiel could have said, "No Lord, those bones can never come back to life." and walked away in sad hopelessness. But instead he opted to believe and act. And he saw life breathed into the deadest of valleys. The Lord longs for our "dry bones" to live again. He longs to breathe life into even the deadest situations. Should we not line our wills up with His and watch our valleys of dry bones and live!
Lord, let our dry bones live again! Bring us back to life! Forgive us for doubting. Forgive us for wallowing. Forgive our laziness, our stubbornness, our unbelief. Forgive us that we feel more comfortable in our pits than grabbing the hand you offer. So often I myself don't want to put the work in or do my part. It's easier to just complain and feel sorry for myself, blame others, even You. I repent of those attitudes this morning and ask You to correct me every time I fall into those traps. Lord, strengthen each of us to speak to our dry bones and walk in newness of life that You give. Help us to "Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 We know the battle belongs to You, Lord, and victory is Yours, but let us do our part as You lead. Create in us the desire to come out of the grave and live, give us the strength and fortitude to obey Your commands. And let us go past our feelings and unbelief to the victory You plan for us. We thank You that You desire us to be free and living abundant lives to Your glory and for Your service. To You be the glory. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Jeremiah 32:17 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
