Priority of Presence

     Do you remember how slow time could pass when we were children? It was pure agony waiting for a special holiday or fun event to arrive. Now as adults, life tends to rush by. Days blend into weeks, and weeks into months. Trying to manage it all and stay present in each moment is not an easy task.
     We become tired and worn down from the same routine every day. Discouragement and restlessness can overtake even the most devoted of mothers. However, defining our purpose and taking possession of our days makes every day meaningful. The dishes will always be there, as will the laundry, but those things don't really matter.
     "So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34, NCV).
     Are you able to stay present in each moment? The deep and lasting impact of your presence does have significance in your child's life. Make being present a priority.

Filling the Emptiness

     We all experience seasons where we feel emptiness: an ache deep within us that is inexplicable but present all at once. In those times, when we aren't sure what it is we're longing for, it is more of God that we need.
     Deep in the heart of every person, there is an innate need for intimacy with our Creator. Without it our souls faint for want of him. But the beautiful truth is that he longs to fill us with himself. We have only to seek him in expectation.
     O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1, ESV).
     Lord, I long for your presence. I need you desperately. I pray that you would meet me in my emptiness and fill me with your Spirit.

What God Wants

     Even before we acquire language, we can tell when we have done something good. Babies see our delighted reaction to their first smiles, giggles, and coos, and they smile, giggle, and coo some more. It makes them happy to bring us happiness. Seeing their joy brings us joy; so we heap even more laughter and smiles on them.
     Praise and recognition are basic human desires given to us by God, and he desires the same. More than any great deed or accomplishment, he wants to hear our praise and receive our thanks. As a proud and loving Father, it brings him great joy to bring us joy.
     I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness (Psalm 40:10, NLT).
     How do your children react when you praise them? How do you respond when they recognize all you do for them? Magnify that happiness as far as you can, and you might get an inkling of how God feels when you praise his name and share what he has done for you.

Making a Home

     Women love to create homes; just check out Pinterest. There are thousands of do-it-yourself home projects and decor ideas. Making a home is much more than cute furniture and pretty paint colors. We have the ability to create a dwelling place full of warmth and laughter. We can provide a place for our family to live where there is rest., security, and comfort.
     It's good to reflect on what type of home we desire our children to grow up in. Don't we want a home where our children's spiritual foundation is strongly built?
     She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind. She watches over her family and never wastes her time. Her children speak well of her (Proverbs 31:26-28, NCV).
     What type of home are you building for your children?
     Aim to make it an escape from the busy world, a place where God's Word is heard and loved, and a place they can freely gather to share and pray for each other. Make it a home with God at the center.

Found in a Desert

     Do you ever go through seasons in your life where you just feel dark? Perhaps directionless or uninspired? In a metaphorical wilderness where you can't get a glimpse of any vision or even hope, God can find you. Even in the deserts of your own heart where you can't muster the strength to reach out to him, he can and will meet you.
     Wait for the Lord, even in your emptiness; wait for him and he will come for you.
     He found them in a desert, a windy, empty land. He surrounded them and brought them up, guarding them as those he loved very much (Deuteronomy 32:10, NCV).
     Thank you, Father, that you are near to me even when my heart is broken and my strength has failed. Thank you that you find me in my wilderness and you will restore me to joy.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. What are you doing with today?

James 4:14

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

No Guarantees

We have no way of knowing when we will pass from this life to the next because we all have an appointment with death and then judgment (Heb. 9:27). So why not make every single day count? We are told to redeem the days and make the best use of our time (Eph. 5:16). I have gotten into the habit of saying “I will see you Sunday or Wednesday, if the Lord wills” because I cannot guarantee that I will do such and such the next week, not to mention tonight or tomorrow. I must submit to God, trust His will, and know that He is sovereign over my life and not me. That doesn’t mean I don’t plan or purpose to do things, but I ultimately know that God alone knows the future, and He always knows what’s best for me.

The Best-Laid Plans

We sometimes like to think that we are doing what we want and plan our own future, but the Word of God says that it is the Lord Who ultimately establishes our steps (Prov. 16:9). If we think along these lines, we can be more prepared when something different comes along and not be caught by surprise. That person you have been wanting to witness to might not even be here tomorrow, so we must tell others that today is their day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2) because tomorrow may never come, and we might not pass this way again and get a second chance to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

No Boasting About Tomorrow

Proverbs 27:1 tells us that we are not supposed to boast or brag about tomorrow because we cannot be sure “what a day may bring.” I can only do what I can do today, while it is still today, and live as much as I can in obedience to God. Pastor Charles Stanley often says, “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.” I think that’s very wise advice. We can only control our obedience and allow God to work out our future for what is best for us because He can even use bad things that happen to us for our ultimate good (Rom. 8:28). God will make our footing sure if our ways please or delight Him (Psalm 37:23). I like to think that I am directing my own steps in life, but can anyone really understand their own way outside of the will of God (Prov. 19:21)?

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, please help me to trust You with tomorrow and to make the most of today because I don’t know the future like You do. I ask your patience when I run ahead of Your will, and please gently bring me back into Your will. In Christ’s precious name I pray.

Amen

Have you lost control of a situation? How can you trust God today?

Psalm 25:2

O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

Relax, God Is in Control

When everything else around you seems to be in chaos and out of control, God never is. God is in the storm. God never promises to keep us out of the storm, to take us around the storm, or to take us over the storm, but He does promises to go with us through the storm. Just as the disciples were with Jesus in the storm (Matt. 8:24), so too is God with us when we seem to have lost control of everything in our life. When you can no longer control what is going on in your life, you can trust God to take it over for you. He has the power and ability to be in every situation.

Trusting God in Chaos

God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (present everywhere at all times), and omniscient (all-knowing). So why couldn’t we trust Him when our life turns chaotic? That is a rhetorical question that has an obvious answer. Of course we can trust Him in our life, no matter what it looks like at the moment. It is important to trust God more than our circumstances because we know God’s Word says that everything that happens to us will surely work out for our best in the end (Rom. 8:28). Do you believe that? We must have faith in God or we cannot possibly please Him (Heb. 11:6), and our goal should always be to please God.

Is God Your Pilot or Co-Pilot?

I saw a bumper sticker a few years ago that said “God is my co-pilot.” I’m sorry to tell the guy, but I wouldn’t want to be traveling with him if God were only his co-pilot. Wouldn’t we rather have God as our pilot and in control of our trip in life? No GPS is like God because they make mistakes, but God never does. My GPS stands for “God’s Perfect Steering,” and no batteries are required! What about yours? Who’s your global positioning system? We should stop striving and realize that God is sovereign (Psalm 46:10) and that we can rest during the trip. Take your hand off the wheel. God has promised in His Word that He will not send you into something that you cannot go through (1 Cor. 10:13), so trust in God with your whole heart and don’t ever rely on what you think you know (Prov. 3:5).

A Closing Prayer

Oh supreme and sovereign God, You are the Creator of all things, and this makes You sovereign over the storm.  I know you can bring order out of chaos, so please help me to trust You when I have lost control of the situation because when I can’t trust anything else in this life, I know I can always trust You, and in Jesus’ name I thank You and pray.

Amen

Are you happy with the way you used yesterday? How can you improve today?

Ephesians 5:15-16

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The Constancy of God

Jesus never changes. He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be the same into all eternity (Heb. 13:8).  But we change over time, and it can be for the better or for the worse. Did you ever have a bad day? Silly question, I know. Maybe I should ask it this way: Did you have a bad day yesterday? If so, what can you do to improve it today? Actually, there are a lot of things that you can improve on today over yesterday. For example, you can serve someone today where you didn’t yesterday, you can call someone today when you missed the chance yesterday, and you can visit someone today when you weren’t able to yesterday. We can’t change the past, but we can change today–one minute at a time.

Tomorrow’s Yesterday

What is yesterday? Today is tomorrow’s yesterday, so we can change our yesterday today and make it better tomorrow. Does that make sense? Our life is only a vapor, anyway.  It is here in what seems a moment, and then it’s gone (James 4:14). Grab today by the horns and make it count. That is all we can do, for we can do nothing about yesterday except apologize to God for squandering it. Even today is like grass in all its glory; it’s here today but gone tomorrow (1 Pet. 1:24). So I say why not make the most of it as much as you possibly can. You can make a difference today, I have no doubt.

Making a Difference Today

When we visited the local nursing home the other day, it was only a small amount of time, but we made a difference in a few people’s lives. To me, pure religion is exactly what James was talking about: visiting the orphans and widows in their affliction (James 1:27). How many, may I ask, are widows and orphans in the local nursing home? I venture to say nearly every one of them. We hold church services for these precious people on Sunday afternoons. Since statistics show that only about four in ten receive visitors, this means in an average nursing home of say 400 residents, about 160 of them never receive visitors, never have anyone outside of the staff or residents to talk with, or never have anyone to sit down and listen to them share their life. You can make a huge difference in the life of someone today, so why not do it? Don’t worry about yesterday, which you can’t do anything about.

A Closing Prayer

Father, You are near to the widows and orphans, so help me to draw near to them, too. God, You are a father to the fatherless and protector of the widows and the orphans (Psalm 68:5), so help me to improve their day today, while it is still called today, and in Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Just Rest

     Picture a season in your life where you were knee-deep in busyness, swallowed in sadness, or buried in exhaustion. Picture that season and how you looked, how you acted, how you reacted, how you survived. Now picture Jesus. See his face, feel his warmth, envision his smile. Picture yourself back in that same tiresome season, sitting on a chair in your house, desiring to spend time with God but so extremely tired that you couldn't find the strength. So you sit.
     Here comes Jesus walking toward you. You invite him to come closer but are ready with the excuses and reasons for why you have been absent from him. He walks toward you and outstretches his hand. When he reaches you, his hand starts to move toward your head. Gently, ever so lovingly, he pushes your head to the chair back, and whispers, "Rest, Daughter, just rest."
     The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:11, NKJV).
     Have you encountered a moment with Jesus where you understood more fully that he gets you to your very core? He knows your heart. He knows when your soul needs rest. Let him stroke your hair and sing you a lullaby.

The Family of Jesus

     You may come from a traditional family or a pieced-together family. You may have been adopted, abandoned, or put through the foster system. Whatever your story, when you accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior, you were welcomed into one big, happy family. Isn't that a beautiful picture? People gathered together, doing the will of God, rejoicing in togetherness for one purpose--to glorify God.
     Whatever your life story up to the point of accepting Jesus, let it be your past and not your present or your future. If you were lost, you are found in Christ. If you were broken, you are being put back together. If you were a mess, you are being pruned and reshaped. If you were alone, you are surrounded by a body of believers.
     [Jesus] remarked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" He pointed to his disciples. "Look!" he said, "these are my mother and brothers." Then he added, "Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother!" (Matthew 12:48-5-, TLB).
     What was your family like before you became a believer? What is your new family like? Does it give you peace to know you are accepted into the family of Christ?

Unhindered

     Our salvation awards us the great privilege of being able to approach God unhindered. With sin no longer dividing us from his holy presence, we are free to bare our souls to God as his beloved sons and daughters.
     As bold and confident lovers of God, there is nothing we cannot share with him--and he with us. Fear and shame have no place in this kind of excellent love.
     Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence (Ephesians 3:12, NLT).
     I love you, Lord. I praise you that you made a way for me to love you unhindered. I don't want my fear and my shame to interrupt our relationship--so I ask you to take it from me. Show me what it means to be a bold and confident child of yours.

Mentorship

     Most expectant mothers in our culture are thrown a baby shower. Along with gifts of diapers, toys, and clothes, they are also handed a ton of advice from seasoned mothers.
     "It takes a village to raise a child." This is such a true expression. Sometimes we don't have all the answers, but there is always a mom who has walked this road ahead of us. That experience gives her wisdom and perspective from a road already traveled. Instead of determining to figure it all out on our own, it is good to ask questions and glean wisdom from others. They are our God-given village.
     [Older women] can teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be wise and pure, to be good workers at home, to be kind (Titus 2:4-5, NCV).
     Who in your life can you glean wisdom and learning from? Seek these women out. They are eager to lend a hand and lighten your load. Embrace them, cry on their shoulders, and appreciate their compassionate hearts. They are a wonderful gift to all who are willing to accept help and learn.

Embracing Weakness

     Do you ever find yourself suddenly aware of your own glaring weaknesses? Aware that, if left up to your own good works, you wouldn't stand a chance of attaining salvation? We should find great comfort in the fact that we are nothing without salvation in Christ Jesus.
     Thankfully, God made a way for us to be united with him, despite impatience, selfishness, anger, and pride. God deeply cares for us and patiently sustains us with steady, faithful, and adoring love. Amazingly, his love even goes beyond this to embrace and transform our weakness when we yield it to him. Weakness isn't something to be feared or hidden; weakness submitted to God allows the power of Christ to work in and through us.

  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10, NKJV).

     God, knowingly my weakness makes me more aware of my need for your strength. I humbly ask you to be strong where I am weak. Thank you that your transformative love is waiting to graciously restore me.

Loving Enemies

     Love your enemy. We've all heard it, but how do we live it? It's a baffling command; an enemy is defined as someone actively opposed to you. How will you help your children when it comes time for them to face--and to love--someone who wants to see them fail?
     To show love to someone engaged in trying to topple us requires superhuman strength. Do we have superhuman strength? Do our children? None of us does, yet Jesus tells us we must. He wants us to be set apart, so others will know he lives in us. We must rely on the Holy Spirit, move out of the way, and let his love rule our hearts.

     "But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"

(Matthew 5:44, NLT).

     What might the world look like if all God's children spent a portion of their day praying for anyone who might wish them harm? What would the world see in you, or in your kids, if you chose to live this way? Share your thoughts on this with God.

     

Just Be There

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was (Job 2:13, NIV).

     As a mother, few things hurt more than seeing our children suffer. We want to take away their pain, to tell them better days are coming. When they are little, this can often be done. The skinned knees and broken toys of childhood lead inevitably to bigger problems--problems we can't always solve.
     The more mature and independent these beings we are blessed to love and nurture become, the harder it becomes to know what to do or even to say when they are hurting. Maybe that's ok. Maybe just our presence is enough.
     Do you struggle with wanting to fix everything for your children? How do you handle it when you can't? As the story of Job continues, his friends turn to that strategy with disastrous effect. Ask God to show you when just your presence, your love, and prayers are all your children need from you.

Most Beautiful of All

Here's the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer (Psalm 27:4, TPT).

     If there is one thing that we can appreciate, it's something pretty. Shiny things easily catch our attention, and we seek to surround ourselves with beauty. There is much beauty to be found in our natural world.

     There is nothing wrong with finding loveliness in our world, but if there is one thing that is more beautiful than anything else, it is the Lord God himself. His love, his mercy, his grace, and his understanding--it is nothing short of breathtaking.

     Lord, I don't want to miss your beauty today. I seek after it because I know it can be found. You created me to enjoy all that is exquisite, beautiful, and captivating--and that is you!Nothing is better than you and your love.

Isolation

Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will go down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too big to understand fully (Ephesians 3:17-19, NLT).

     In the depths of motherhood, it is easy to feel isolated from the rest of the world--especially when days are more hard than easy.

     We are not alone. He is there when we rock our babies in the early morning light, groggy without sleep. He sees us slaving over the stove with a toddler fussing at our feet and a baby on our hip. He surrounds us when we are anxious over a feverish child. He is with us as we wait for our teenagers to come home after curfew. God knows every worry and every thought. And every sacrifice given.

     Do you feel alone today? Remember that everything you do is accounted for: God sees every kiss, every hug, every extra bedtime story read, every sleepless night and early morning. You are not alone. Ask God to make his presence known to you.

A Season of Waiting

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps (Proverbs 16:9, NIV).

     Being in a season of waiting can be trying. When our flesh desires the next thing, and God has a different plan, we might feel our trust waver in weakness. We might cry out in frustration or get angry at the tiniest of things. Our flesh can be our biggest adversary. It has desires that are ungodly, wants that are unnecessary, and longings that just aren't right for us. This is where faith comes in.

     Believing in something we can't see isn't for the faint of heart. It takes prayer, a listening ear, and trust. There is a beautiful gift to unwavering trust in God; we can give up control because there is nothing we can do anyway. There is no point in frantically worrying because he has decided for us. He will gladly take the burden from us.

     Do you have an unwavering trust in God that he has determined your life plan? Trusting in a God who loves you unconditionally and has your best interests at the forefront of his mind is an incredible place to rest.

Blessed in Mourning

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning 

  (Psalm 30:5, NLT).

     There can be many sources of grief. There may have been a death, or maybe it was the loss of something else: a job, a dream, a friendship. Grief seems to come without warning or invitation. It takes over our homes and lives in almost every facet.

     It is critical during this season that we let the Lord lead us. He asks nothing more than for us to lie in his strong arms. As we lay there, he will faithfully whisper words of comfort. When we're in this state of grief, he calls us blessed. That's right. Read Matthew 5:4. He calls us blessed because he knows he is going to pour a measure of comfort over us that we wouldn't receive otherwise. That comfort will sustain us when it seems nothing else will.

     Has grief entered your home? Let God be your comfort. His comfort is tailor-made to your pain and your hurt. Let him hold you and bless you. Place your hope in his promise that joy will come in the morning.

Starting Over

Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1, NKJV).

 

     Have you ever wished you could have a do-over? It would be so great to turn back the clock, reverse a decision, and do it differently. There is so much more wisdom in looking back! Yes, there are some things we can do over, like tweak the recipe or rip the seam, but most often, the important big decisions can't be changed.

     Except when it comes to spiritual things. God tells us that we can start over every morning because his mercies will be there. Whatever went awry the day before, whatever mess we made from poor choices, we can begin the next day with a completely clean slate! There does not need to be any carryover of yesterday's mistakes. Our part in the transaction may require repentance of sin or forgiving someone, perhaps even ourselves. Bathed in his mercies, we can begin each day squeaky clean!

     Lord, I am so grateful that your love and your mercies never end. You extend them to me brand new every morning! Great is your faithfulness!

A Father's Prayer

     Last night my little boy confessed to me some childish wrong, and kneeling at me knee he prayed with tears "Dear God, make me a man, like Daddy--wise and strong--I know you can."

     Then while he slept, I knelt beside his bed. Confessed my sins and prayed with low-bowed head. "O God, make me a child, like my child here-- pure, open, trusting thee with faith sincere. --Author unknown

"Be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ"

PHILIPPIANS 1:10  

Do It Together

A Florida church holding monthly events for the entire family had trouble with parents dropping their kids off and not staying for the events. They remedied the problem with this announcement: "The Magic of Lassie, a film for the whole family, will be shown Sunday at 5:00P.M. Free puppies will be given to all children not accompanied by their parents."

"Since his life is bound up in the lad's life

GENESIS 44:30

Rest for the Weary

"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, NLT).

     Can you remember the last time you were alone? I mean really alone. Free from any demands and distractions in a quiet cozy corner of your own to breathe deeply? It is difficult to function well when our hearts and minds are full of noise and chaos. The only way we can possibly operate is to give space for quiet and peace to make a home deep within us. 

     Stealing away for some peaceful moments is vital to being a good mom. We get so busy taking care of others that we often forget to take care of ourselves.

     Do you feel fatigued? Making time with the Lord so he can recharge you is a wonderful gift you can give to your children. Schedule it into your day guilt free.

The Protector

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Isaiah 43:2, NIV).

     From the first time someone else holds our precious new babies, our thoughts fix on their safety. Are they using both hands? Remember that first car trip? How many times did you look back at your (probably sleeping) baby? Were you leaning back as you drove, one hand on the car seat, making sure no turn was too sharp or stop too sudden?
     God feels that same way about our children--and about us. There is nothing he won't do to protect his children. He is right there even when we can't be. So go ahead and drive with both hands; he's got this.
     Is it comfortable and natural for you to entrust your children to others, or do you struggle to let go? How about with God? Share your heart with him; ask him to strengthen your confidence, and thank him for how very much he loves you and yours.

Held Together

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17, NIV).

     Often life seems to be a conglomeration of unrelated activities and we feel pulled in a thousand directions simultaneously. Loose ends, unfinished business, and to-do lists leave us feeling a day late and a dollar short. Frustration, discouragement, and anxiety often overwhelm. The apostle Paul must have experienced something similar when he was on a ship headed to Jerusalem to be tried in court. An enormous storm raged. In an effort to survive, the sailors wrapped ropes around the body of the ship to keep it from falling apart. God promised Paul that all would survive the wreck, and they did!

     What an amazing truth it is to know that it is not our job to hold our lives together. Our responsibility is to submit our to-do lists to God, bow to his will, and let him hold it all together. He is the rope that holds us fast.

     Lord, thank you that you are the glue that keeps me together. Today as I face the impossible list of my responsibilities, I submit to your will and ask you to hold everything in place. 

City without Walls

The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11-12, NIV).

     In grade school, we had to wait to speak until our hand was raised. The teacher would not call on a single student until she had finished talking. The children could barely wait another second before blurting out the answer. These teachers were wise. They were trying to teach self-control--a valuable life lesson.

     Lack of self-control comes in a variety of forms: overeating, spending too much time on the computer or phone, losing our tempers, wasting money, gossiping, and the list goes on. Self-control is an area that requires discipline. In order to perfect it, we need to practice and ask God for help. Proverbs 25:28 describes a man without self-control as a city broken into and left without walls. What an easy way to let the enemy in.

     Which areas in your life require you to practice more self-control? Who can you be accountable to? Ask for help today in the area of self-control. Bring your weakness into the light and find the help you need in the Lord.

Bridging the Gap

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).

     Do you ever feel like there is an enormous gap between what you know to be true in God's Word and what you feel to be true? Our feelings are so fickle. They fluctuate depending on our circumstances much as our moods change with the weather. The good news is that they don't change facts! God promises strength, wisdom, peace, hope, direction, comfort, forgiveness, courage, eternal life, and so much more. These are unchangeable--they are written in stone.

     How do we move from the tyranny of emotions to the confidence of faith? We must determine to believe what God says instead of what our emotions say, and then declare his promises aloud! Then we do it again and again and again until faith rises and bridges the gap.

     Lord, your Word is true and I know it. Right now, I feel so alone and frightened even though I know you promise never to leave me or forsake me. I choose to believe the truth. Help me now by the power of your Spirit.

Our Father

OUR FATHER KNOWS WHATS BEST FOR US,
SO WHY SHOULD WE COMPLAIN-
WE ALWAYS WANT THE SUNSHINE,
BUT HE KNOWS THERE MUST BE RAIN-
WE LOVE THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER
AND THE MERRIMENT OF CHEER,
BUT OUR HEARTS WILL LOSE THEIR TENDERNESS
IF WE NEVER SHED A TEAR...
OUR FATHER TESTS US OFTEN
WITH SUFFERING AND WITH SORROW,
HE TESTS US, NOT TO PUNISH US,
BUT TO HELP US MEET TOMORROW...
FOR GROWING TREES ARE STRENGTHENED
WHEN THEY WITHSTAND THE STORM,
AND THE SHARP CUT OF THE CHISEL
GIVES THE MARBLE GRACE AND FORM...
GOD NEVER HURTS US NEEDLESSLY,
AND HE NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN,
FOR EVERY LOSS HE SENDS TO US
IS FOLLOWED BY RICH GAIN...
AND WHEN WE COUNT THE BLESSINGS
THAT GOD HAS SO FREELY SENT,
WE WILL FIND NO CAUSE FOR MURMURING
AND NO TIME TO LAMENT...
FOR OUR FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN,
AND TO HIM ALL THINGS ARE PLAIN,
SO HE NEVER SENDS US PLEASURE
WHEN THE SOULS DEEP NEED IS PAIN...
SO WHENEVER WE ARE TROUBLED,
AND WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG,
IT IS JUST GOD WORKING IN US
TO MAKE OUR SPIRIT STRONG.

{HELEN STEINER RICE}

A Basket Case

"I took the load off their shoulders; I let them put down their baskets" (Psalm 81:6, NCV).

     People in developing countries typically have few options when a heavy load of some kind must be moved. In Africa, a tribal woman can carry up to 70% of her body weight on the top of her head. Physical burdens are--yes--burdensome and require strength and stamina.

     Spiritual and emotional burdens are the same. The heaviness and fatigue of the soul can bring depression and even a loss of hope. There is great news, however! We have a burden bearer--one who is well equipped and ready to remove our hands from our heavy load! Our responsibility is to let him do it. Put all of your concerns, worries, fears, and doubts into God's mighty basket and let him haul it away! You don't have to be a basket case! 

     Lord, today I'm placing all of my concerns into your ample basket. I release it to your care. As you solve all these issues, let me know how to proceed one step at a time. Thank you for being my burden bearer!

A Wealth of Wisdom

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5, NIV).

     Motherhood encompasses so many things. It is filled with so much joy and many blessings. However, it is undeniably a huge undertaking that is both physically and emotionally taxing. The world is quick to tell us how-to and how-not-to parent, but essentially we enter into the role of motherhood without a manual or a clear instruction guide. It is impossible to prepare for every unique parenting challenge that may come our way.

     Yet we need not fear. God is the perfect parent and teacher. His wisdom is ours for the taking. All we have to do is ask him. In every situation, in every decision made, we are not without help.

     You don't have to depend on your minimal experience; you can rely on God's infinite knowledge. What parenting questions do you want to ask him today?

Do your internal thoughts match your external actions?

Psalm 139:23

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

The Intents of the Heart

God alone truly knows the motives or intents of the heart. He alone can search the heart and examine the mind and will reward each of us according to what our deeds deserve (Jer. 17:10). So how can we, as fallible human beings, know if our internal thoughts match our external actions and if we’re doing them for the right reasons? I am not sure we can fully do this without God’s Spirit to help us. When I look at what I do, does it match what my original intention was, or was it only to be seen by others? That’s a question we must all ask ourselves at one time or another because like my thoughts are not God’s thoughts (Isaiah 55:8), neither are my intents or internal thoughts His thoughts. Unless my internal thoughts are done out of purely unselfish motivation, it doesn’t matter what my external actions look like.

Thoughts and Intents of the Heart

Jesus once said that if we even look at someone with lust in our hearts, we have committed adultery of the heart because that’s what we were thinking (Matt. 5:28). Hopefully, the actual physical act will not ever happen, but unless we are able to look at our internal thoughts more objectively and examine whether they are pure or not, our external actions are useless if not done for the right reasons. Only God can discern our thoughts (Psalm 139:2), and this is something that we cannot fully do. Therefore, we need His help in doing this because only He can direct the thoughts of our hearts and direct them toward His purposes (1 Chron. 29:18).

He Knows Our Hearts

God knows our hearts better than we do (Acts 1:24), and what we do in secret will be rewarded openly someday (Matt. 6:4). We should realize that what we do should not be done before others because it’s likely for the wrong motives. God will repay us for our actions if our heart’s intent was right (Rom. 2:6), and He will come with His rewards in His hands to dispense to all according to what we have done in this life (Rev. 22:12). Even the secret things hidden in our hearts are plainly known to God (Psalm 44:21), which is why He frequently tests our hearts (Prov. 17:3). His eyes behold every internal thought and intent, and He will reward or withhold rewards according to what our motivation really was (Jer. 32:19). So my question to you–and asking this of myself as well–is this: Do your internal thoughts match your external actions, whether for good or bad?

A Closing Prayer

Father God, You alone know the heart and know what I am thinking and why I do certain things, whether I do them to be seen by others or whether they are done in secret and for Your glory. There is none like You, Who can see what my true motives are and if my actions are done with a pure and sincere heart–help me to know the difference. In Jesus’ Holy Name I pray.

Amen

God has given us the the weapons to protect us from evil. Will you use them?

Ephesians 6:16

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

In All Circumstances

I loved the fact that Paul made sure to say “in all circumstances” we’re to take up the shield of faith. Like the rest of the armor of God, we are the ones who need to put it on, and in the case of the shield, we are the ones who need to pick it up because God won’t force our hands open to make us take it. Can you imagine a Roman general picking up the shields for all of his soldiers and then handing them to them? That’s inconceivable, isn’t it? The shield to the Roman soldier was used in preventing the fiery darts of the enemy from hurting or killing them. Paul loved to use the examples of the Roman soldier because he was with them often, so he knew what each piece of equipment was and why each one was critical. When foreign armies attacked the Roman soldiers, they would be attacked with arrows that had pitch on them, which was highly flammable. If one of these arrows struck the solider, the soldier could be quickly engulfed in flames. The enemy that Paul is referring to is a lot more cunning than human enemies and a lot stronger than we are, so we need the shield of faith to put out these fiery darts. But what is the shield of faith?

Saved by Faith

The fact that we are saved by faith is not a New Testament doctrine at all because even Abraham believed or trusted God. That trust or faith was accounted to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6), and this came hundreds of years before Christ came to die for us. Paul essentially quoted Genesis 15:6 when he wrote to the church at Rome that our faith in Christ is accounted to us as righteousness (Rom. 4:3). We should rejoice that we don’t have to depend on our working out our own salvation to be saved because it’s an absolutely free gift (Eph. 2:8-9). That type of faith is the faith that can shield you every day of your life as you leave your home and go out into the territory of the enemy. A shield of faith can immediately quench or put out those flaming arrows that Satan and his demons will surely be aiming and firing at us today and every day.

Strengthening the Shield

Let me stress again that you need to pick up that shield of faith because the darts or flaming arrows are coming directly from Satan (Eph. 6:16). So you’ll need all the protection you can get. How can you pick up the shield of faith every day? By picking up the Word of God every day because faith comes by the hearing of the Word and by reading it, too (Rom. 10:17). You can pick up the shied by picking up your Bible. If you are inconsistent in reading the Word of God, your walk with God will be inconsistent. The more Word that gets into you, the stronger that shield is; therefore, change your daily life by abiding in the Word daily.

A Closing Prayer

Father God, You are so good to me because You have provided me with all I will need to protect myself from the enemy, who has it in for me. But Your Word increases my faith, and I trust You. In the King of kings and Lord of lords’ name, Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen

God has given you the armor to fight spiritual attacks. Will you wear it?

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Putting on the Armor Daily

How can wearing the breastplate of righteousness every day help change our lives? Which ways would you suggest it can change our lives? The armor of God is useless unless we put it on. It’s like a police officer going out to patrol for crime but leaving his bulletproof vest at home. He can still do his job, but he’s considerably more vulnerable to the enemy. Unless we take the time to put on the armor of God, it can’t do a thing for us. Paul writes Christians in Ephesus and tells them, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Eph. 6:14). It’s hard to stand firm if you know you’re vulnerable to attack. Notice that we must put it on because God doesn’t force Himself on us. He won’t put it on for us; that is something we must do ourselves. If you put it on daily, you’ll be like the police officer who can leave home and do his job with considerably more safety. But what is the “breastplate of righteousness”?

The Breastplate of His Righteousness

We have no righteousness of our own (Rom. 3:10-12; 1 John 1:8, 10), so you must understand Who the source of righteousness is–it is Jesus Christ. He became sin for us so that now when God sees us, He sees Jesus’ righteousness in us, not us as sinful creatures (2 Cor. 5:21). Part of changing your daily life is believing the Word of God, that we become the righteousness of Christ by repenting and trusting in Him. If you abide in the Word on a daily basis, the Word will change you on a daily basis. Scriptures such as 2 Corinthians 5:21 can give you a clear understanding of who you are in Christ and how you now have His righteousness. That knowledge should shape your day much differently than leading a daily life of ups and downs and sin and shame. The slate is cleaned by Jesus’ blood. We can confess our sins daily, and He promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

The Breastplate’s Purpose

The breastplate put on by the Roman soldiers was essential to going into war and living through it. Today, Christians are in a war against the devil (Eph. 6:11), the flesh, and their own carnal nature. Since we are fighting an invisible enemy (2 Cor. 10:4), we must protect ourselves as best we can. We must put on Christ and His righteousness to keep the fiery darts of the enemy from penetrating our vital organs. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts and gives us peace of mind so that no weapon formed by the enemy will prosper against us (Isaiah 54:17). Knowing that we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1) and that we’re no longer condemned (Rom. 8:1), we have the great privilege of putting on that breastplate of His righteousness.

A Closing Prayer

Holy Father in heaven, thank You for providing me with Jesus’ righteousness, because of myself I would have no chance to fight an enemy too powerful and invisible for me to see. Thank You for sending Your Son so that I can have His righteousness imputed on my behalf, and in His holy name I pray.

Amen

Individually Designed

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:15-16, NIV).

     Do you remember the first time your child surprised you? Few things are more delightful than watching our little babies become little people. Personalities emerge, opinions form, and what God has known all along begins to unfold.

     In this light, parenting can be seen as a long process of becoming acquainted with our children. What a gift! They will be both like us and entirely unique, and we must strive to embrace both. They have our dimples, but not our love for music. Their eyes are just like ours, and so is their need to always be right. They are ours to nurture and love, but first, last, and always, they are his.

     What fascinates you about your children? What delights you? What are you learning about who God has designed them to be? 

ARE YOU SHINING?

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14, ESV).

     Lights from major cities like Los Angeles, Nashville, and Atlanta can be seen from space. In fact, their brilliance increases 50% more during the holiday season! These cities simply cannot be hidden.

     As believers, we are to be a light, shining for all to see. If there ever was a time in history where the beacon of light needed to illuminate the darkness, it is now! We dare not hide behind the facade of political correctness and fear, but rather speak and live in the luminescence of Christ's truth. We have the light of the world living in us and we know the truth sets us free.

     Lord, shine through me this day. Give me courage to speak and live accordingly to your Word, no matter what the world may say I want your glow to radiate through me. 

Overwhelming Devotion

This forever-song I sing of the gentle love of God overwhelming me! Young and old alike will hear about your faithful, steadfast love--never failing! Here's my chorus: "Your mercy grows through the ages. Your faithfulness is firm, rising up to the skies" (Psalm 89:1-2, TPT).

     God in his great power and faithfulness never fails us, never gives up on us, and will never leave us alone to fend for ourselves. His love for us remains--regardless of our circumstances or our weaknesses--strong and immovable. His devotion to his children exceeds that of all parents. He is without limits, and nothing can ever change his devotion.

     This truth is overwhelmingly satisfying; when such devotion has been proven, what else could attract our gaze? Where else could our eyes find such beauty and purity as they do upon the face of Jesus? In awe, we recognize that his gaze is fixed right back at us, seeing us as a lovely and worthy prize. We can neither deserve this gaze nor escape it. We are flawed, but he is unwavering in his love for us.

     Thank you, Father, that you are wholly devoted to me. Your love is mine to enjoy forever. Help me to remain in that love.

God Likes Being a Parent

"The Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself" (1 Samuel 12:22, NASB).

     While we are parents, do we realize that we also get to be children? God will always call us his children. He enjoys being our dad, and we can enjoy being his child. That means we can still ask him our questions the way a child would. It means we can still tell him that we don't have it all figured out. It means that we don't have to bear the weight of providing for all our children's needs. We can simply ask our Father in heaven to take care of them in the same way he takes care of us.

     Children aren't afraid to say when they are frightened, confused, or worried. They are expected to take these needs to their parents and get direction and comfort. We can do the same with God.

     Parents, you have an invitation to go to God as a child. He delights in this because he loves being your Dad. Can you relate to God fearlessly as a child would? 

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY

Wednesday, August 22

  James 2:17 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

 
Read James 2

Heart Center

Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected (Philippians 4:8, NCV).

     We've said it to our kids on a number of occasions. "You have two choices." Then we proceed to give them their options. Probably one of the choices would be better, but we give them two options to ensure we have a back-up. God also gives us choices. Because of free will, we choose how we spend our time, what we invest our energy in, and what we fill our hearts and minds with.

     His desire for us is that we choose him. He wants us to stay in communication with him as we are faced with daily choices. We keep God as our focal point and continually meet him back at our center, so we don't ever steer too far off course.

     Where do you choose to spend the majority of your time? What choices could you eliminate to stay centered on Jesus? In a busy life of choices, it is important to know your back-up is also your best option--seeking God and choosing life with him. 

Corporate Gathering

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25, NKJV).

     Sometimes getting to church is hard. The idea of spending a Sunday morning at home on the couch in our pajamas is tempting--especially when it has been a long week. The work it would take to get ourselves and others ready to go and out the door is maybe more energy than we have at the moment. Perhaps we feel like going to church is a waste of time when there is so much catching up to do at home: the lawn needs to be mowed or the kitchen needs a deep clean.

     Is church worth the effort and the time? Always. Worshiping with fellow believers is refreshing. There is strength that comes from being surrounded by the body of Christ. At church we can receive prayer, encouragement, and comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Church is a place we can find rest and feel at home. We are united with family,receiving a greater understanding of who God is.

     Do you find it hard to make it to church consistently? Even when your body is tired, your soul will feel renewed. When your schedule is hectic, you can experience peace. It is definitely worth the effort. 

Faith on an Island

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit.The other man's parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. 

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island.The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a booming voice from heaven, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the Voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.

The Seasons of Life

The Seasons of Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfilment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season in the tree’s life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are – and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life – can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfilment of your fall.

Don’t judge a life by one difficult season. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.