God Granted His Request!

1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

Greetings,

I love the Bible. It has eye-opening verses that were written from God to you and me so we can pray confidently.

When we ask God to bless us, increase our sphere of influence,

and invite His hand to guide and keep us from harm, it all works together like one big powerful and heavenly umbrella to shield us from pain. Could this mean that if we don't pray this way we will suffer needlessly? Maybe, but I don't plan on finding out! 

Life is full of pain already it; God knows it.  But He also knows that when we pray to be spared and protected, we are - from a lot of junk.  

Several years ago Jorge, the kids, and I were on the Palmetto expressway headed to my in-laws in the middle of a bad rainstorm.  Suddenly, the car directly in front of us swirled out of control and did several complete 360s.  This started a chain reaction of several other cars, ours included, slamming on their brakes and steering to get out of the way at 60+ mph in the pouring rain.  When it was all said and done, the traffic was at a standstill, car upon car sat within a few harried inches of one another, and our car was completely facing west instead of north. It was so close to another car that was facing east that not even a child could have fit between the two cars. But there was not one accident in sight.  

My family and I were kept from harm and pain that day, Amen.

Let's take God at His Word, be as bold as Jabez, and ask to be kept from pain. Look at how the verse ends: GOD GRANTED HIS REQUEST!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Bless us! Enlarge our territory.  Prosper us with the finances we need to meet our obligations, prosper our bodies with health, prosper our relationships so that those we love are receptive to learning about you. and prosper our souls with peace, joy, and hope. And keep us from pain - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Extend Your hand over us all like a mighty shade of protection, and deliver us from evil. Thank You for granting our request. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

God Rejoices Over You

Isaiah 62:5 "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, God rejoices over you."

A post Easter greeting to everyone!

I was so very blessed this past weekend because the words of last Thursday's DEVOs came to life in a powerful way. 

A few weeks ago Hormone and his lovely wife planned a weekend trip to Tampa to help a friend, Mario, with his proposal to his girlfriend, Erica.   Their job was to capture the moment on camera.

However, on Wednesday of this past week, Mario started to feel queasy with an unsettling pain in his stomach.  And no, it was not pre-proposal jitters.  Turns out his appendix ruptured, and he had to have emergency surgery.   Jorgie and Lis made the trip anyway and helped out by taking care of their fabulous Husky, Ace, and by spending long hours in the hospital keeping this young couple company.  They are from New York and no family lives nearby etc...

Mario was in the hospital three days, and when he went home on Saturday no one would have blamed him if he would have postponed the proposal.

But no - heck no!  

Mario had already covered the bases.  He had the ring, Erica's father's blessing, and most importantly, the desire, which nothing, not even a ruptured appendix was going to squelch.

So on Sunday, when Erica least expected it, Mario, in a heroic post-op feat, got down on one knee on the Anna Maria Island Pier and popped the question.  Erica said yes, Lis captured it all on camera, and I am very happy for this lovely couple.

I am also reminded why the Bible describes God's love for us as a bridegroom rejoicing over his bride: It's the best way for us to try and wrap our mortal heads around the indescribable pure joy and commitment of everlasting love.

Take a look at the beautiful picture below. Thank God for young people who make a commitment, and then thank God for His eternal commitment to us.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Today we rejoice at how You love us.  It's powerful, and we need it.  You are committed to us,  and we are grateful. As You rejoice over us today, fill our hearts with peace and joy. In Jesus' name, AMEN.   

Infinity and Beyond...

Good afternoon, all you beautiful, magnificent, and highly-blessed children of God!

A while back I took Jorge to see Les Miérables. He enjoyed a nice two-hour nap while I sat enthralled by the story. There's a powerful scene where Cosette and Marius see each other for the first time, and it's love at first sight. Immediately they know they want to be together forever, and I, well, I just sighed....

Do you remember what it was like at the beginning of your relationship? Jorge and I would talk on the phone - the one connected to the wall - starting at midnight, and we would fall asleep talking nonsense and the phone would be off the hook all night. And then we would wake up and say, "Good morning. I missed you..." It was so dramatically silly, but it was love. More than once I recall my mom getting upset because there was drool on the phone.

Fast forward 30 years, and I am still madly in love with my man. But let's be honest; our relationship motto nowadays is, "There's no one else I'd rather lay in bed and look at my smartphone next to." 

(There's a sign in my bedroom that actually says that!)

God, however, has always been crazy about us, and He is as passionate now as He ever was. Look at how the Bible describes His love for us.

Isaiah 62:5 As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, God rejoices over you.

Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love.

The verb "rejoices" as used in this scripture is a present tense.  For those of us who have been out of high school for more than 30 years, wordcentral.com defines present tense as, "a tense that expresses action in the present time and is used of what is true at the time of speaking or is always true."

God rejoices over us right now and with the same zeal as a bridegroom does over his bride on their wedding day. It never wears off, and it has always been that way.  IT'S EVERLASTING.

Are you having a rough day? A rough patch? A rough spell? The Maker of your soul loves you to infinity and beyond. He will take care of you. Never doubt it. 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You that right now You rejoice over us. No one else has that kind of passion for us! It comforts us to know that no matter what is going on we are loved by You forever. Heal our hearts and heal our hurts. Comfort us with Your goodness. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

My Husband is Pregnant!!!

Blast from the past...Originally published May, 2015~

Tuesday greetings, all you blessed and beautiful children of our Almighty God!

God blessed me with two lovely children who nonetheless, were responsible for months of agonizing morning sickness.  I also suffered from pytalism (excessive saliva production) during both pregnancies for all nine months, and I could not wait till it was over.  I apologize to the weak-stomached, but the pytalism was so bad that I had to sleep with my mouth open and just allow the saliva to trickle out on its own into a bucket because I just could not swallow.  Weird, but true! This literally went on the entire time those kiddos were in my belly. (Please note that literally, the minute I delivered Hormone and Rayray, it stopped and I felt great!)  And even though Jorge was so patient during both pregnancies, it highly annoyed me that he did not feel sick – ever – and that he could speak to other people without having to excuse himself to spit in a cup.  One time in church, the youth pastor, God bless him, actually asked me for my “special cup” during the bible lesson, and imagine my horror at having to deny him in front of everyone.  He playfully insisted a few times, and I playfully countered that I couldn’t do it. He was not able to make his point that day, and I was mortified at having to explain it to him later.  Wouldn’t it be great if Jorge could feel what I felt even for one moment?

Actually, MY HUSBAND IS PREGNANT!  That’s right! Jorge is pregnant!  But wait, it’s not what you think.  

Romans 8:22-25 “All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy (The Message Version).”

Simply stated: Me, Jorge, you – the entire creation – are all pregnant with the very real hope that someday soon all the evils, troubles, injustices, problems, sin, sickness etc…will give way to a glorious existence with Christ!  It does not matter that the world is utterly crazy and chaotic right now.  (Right before I sat down to send this DEVO I learned of the bombing in Brussels this morning.)We have a hope that does not diminish, but grows grows grows.

Another version of the Bible say, “The whole of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth…” What I like about these verses is that it reminds us that we are all in this together.  We understand each other.  We all get it.  We are all united in our understanding of how difficult life can be.  Jorge gets me, I get him, we get you, and you get us!

Some of us may be feeling the “pangs” a little more intensely lately; we are desperate to give birth already.  But as we labor, we must remind ourselves that what we are going to give birth to is worth the wait.  As bad as I felt being pregnant with Hormone, that did not stop me from getting pregnant with Rayray because the end result was a precious life. Yet spiritually speaking, what we will give birth to is something so much infinitely better that God reminds us in His Word that there are no human words capable of describing the magnificence and perfection of it all!

As we swell with anticipation, it is important to connect with our Father.  He will guide us along as we wait.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, It’s not easy being pregnant sometimes.  It hurts, yet we know that this is part of the process to finally having and seeing and experiencing all that we have ever hoped for and then some.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Our Lord Responded~

In Tuesday's DEVO we learned that Jesus forgave the criminal who was crucified next to Him. 

I want to go back and take another look at this passage because we need to remember that the whole exchange between Christ and the criminal took place while Jesus Himself was nailed to a cross.

In the midst of His suffering He takes a moment to reassure the poor lost soul next to Him.  It would be hard to blame Jesus if He would have kept to Himself. But He didn't. A saved criminal is in Heaven today because our Lord responded.

I don't know about you, but I feel as though I have no excuses.  It doesn't matter if I am having a bad day, if I have a flat tire, if Hershey Pie dug a trench in my newly-planted grass, if my bank took it upon itself to send me a new credit card because they suspected a breach, and I spent a very frustrating hour entering in the new info for all the folks I have on auto-pay...

If someone reaches out to you or me, let's view it as a Divine assignment and respond.  Amazing things will happen when we do!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the example of Christ.  If He can respond, then so can we.  And thank You that You always hear our prayers! In Jesus' name, AMEN. 

No Questions Asked~

Luke 23 contains the details of Jesus' crucifixion, and we learn in verse 32 that two other men, who were criminals, were also going to be crucified. Verse 39 says one of the them "hurled insults at Jesus." Verses 40-42, however, paint a different picture of the other criminal.

He says, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But Jesus has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

These two men represent the two types of people in our world today - those who want nothing to do with Christ and those who realize their great need for Him. (I have something in common with the criminal who needed Jesus, and I hope you do too.)

Nevertheless, verse 43 is what makes Christ so awesome, so great, so wonderful, so selfless..."Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

So simple, really. No harsh words about a crime-filled life. No judgment, no condemnation, no criticism. The criminal genuinely wanted to be forgiven, and Jesus gave it. No questions asked.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Today we unite our voice with that forgiven criminal and say, "Remember us!" We look forward to being with You in Paradise. In the meantime, thank You that You are with us each step of the way on planet earth. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

I Need a Personal Resurrection~

Easter Sunday is a little over two weeks away, and Resurrection is on my mind.  Powerful synonyms include, comeback, rebirth, return to life, renewal, restoration, and rebound.  Of course, the greatest comeback of all time was Christ's, and His Resurrection teaches us that just because death has occurred, it doesn’t mean it’s over. 

Eternally speaking, if we physically die, it’s the beginning of a glorious existence in heaven.  

But what are the implications of the resurrection while we live on earth? 

According to Ephesians 1:19-20 "The immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of God’s power which He exerted when He raised Christ from death,” is “in and for us who believe.”

That same mind-blowing power that resurrected Christ is IN us and FOR us to resurrect any dead areas of our lives. 

This is profound, people.  It’s not too late, and it’s not over.  God is willing to exert His power for us. 

Think about something you have given up on. 

“I’ll never get married.”

“I’ll never have children.”

“I’ll never get out of debt.”

“I’ll never have peace.”

“I’ll never get along with my spouse.”

“I’ll never enjoy the work I do.”

"I'll never have faith."

"I'll never feel better."

"My kid/s will never get their act together."

"Depression will always get the better of me." 

Let’s stop saying never.  The immeasurable, unlimited, surpassing greatness of God’s power CAN RESURRECT ANYTHING. 

There is one condition, however, and it is that this power is reserved for those who believe.  Are you having difficulty believing?  Take heart!  Ephesians 1:18 tells us that prayer is the key. We can pray that "the eyes of our heart be enlightened to know the hope to which He has called us."

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I long for do overs and new beginnings -- especially in this area (____________________).  I need a personal resurrection,  and right now as I struggle to fully comprehend the exceeding greatness of Your power for me and in me, I pray that You would enlighten my eyes to believe You with my whole heart.  You raised Christ to give me eternal life, but You also exert Your power to raise up hopeless areas of my life.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

What Makes You Happy?

Romans 12:12 “Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.”

Tuesday greetings~

What makes you happy?  I used to say that I was happiest when my chickies were in the nest.  My definition has broadened, however, because they both flew the coop.  What makes me happy now is when they visit, stay for dinner, turn off their electronic devices, make eye contact, and say stuff.

I am also happy when it’s me and Jorge and reruns of 1960s sitcoms to keep us company.  Plus, I am happy when I chat with a friend, have a cold glass of milk in front of me, am cuddling with a baby, or am holding the latest and greatest spy novel in my hands. Lately, petting my Hershey Pie is at the top of the list!

But what about when troubles come?  Can we be happy then?  Can we have joy when we do not feel well, or one of our kids is in trouble? When we are surrounded by problem after problem after problem?

The answer is yes.  It is possible to smile and laugh in the middle of all the madness, but only when we base our happiness on our hope in Christ.

If my happiness were based on my money, where would I be if I lost it all?

If my happiness were based on being young, I would have been in trouble a while back.

Let's face it: Babies grow up, relationships come and go, and perfect health does not last forever. 

But Jesus, well, He is a constant we can rely on! When we base our happiness on our hope in Christ, nothing - NOT ONE THING - can take it away.  We are all hoping for peace, health, perfect love, and the promise of Revelation 21:4 where "there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain."  And these are precisely the amazing blessings that will be ours soon enough. 

We still have to live this life to get to the eternal one, so God reminds us in the verses above that when things get tough, even unbearable, we can be happy by proactively making sure that our hope is in Christ; He is One who will turn everything we have hoped for into a reality.  In the meantime, maintaining the habit of prayer keeps our focus where it should be.

  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for giving us so much hope.  No matter what is going on, help us to always keep our eyes on You and all the amazing blessings that are headed our way.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

Praise is a Good Thing~

"Let every living, breathing creature praise God!
    Hallelujah!" Psalm 150:6

I am pleased to report that my precious Hershey Pie is a Christian dog.  That's right! Every time he enters his crate -- of his own free will, I might add -- I put on praise and worship music and Hershey settles right down.  It soothes his doggy soul, and he rests peacefully while I am away.

We would be wise to fill our atmosphere with Christian music as well, and Psalm 147 gives us over 15 reasons why "It is a good thing to sing praise to our God."

Here are just a few:

He rebuilds

He heals

He has limitless strength

He puts the fallen on their feet again

He blesses our children

He makes our homes secure

He launches His promises earthward

When we praise Him, when we put our focus on Him and His greatness, and three mighty things happen.  First, we forget about our troubles. Secondly, our faith is strengthened to believe in His power, and thirdly, "we get God's attention" (verse 11).

Imagine that -- God's attention on us and our hopes, dreams, families, fears, businesses, concerns...AMEN!

Put on some praise music today and get ready to receive all the promises He is launching your way!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We praise Your mighty name today.  It is a good thing to sing to You for You are worthy to receive it.  We look to You as the Source of our joy, peace, protection, provision, and hope.  Fill us with Your presence and thank You that every living thing, including our beloved pets, are commanded to praise You! In Jesus' name, AMEN~

*All Bible verses are from The Message version

RSVP

Tuesday greetings from sunny and beautiful South Florida!

It's been four years since I was busy preparing for Hormone's wedding, and three since Rachel's. (How can this be? Time has flown by!) And one of the details that I stressed over more than others were the RSVPs, which is an acronym for the lovely French phrase: Répondez S'il Vous Plaît - Reply, If You Please. In order to have the right amount of food, decorations, table settings, etc...it was important to know how many guests were attending.  

Including an RSVP is an elegant way of asking someone to either accept or decline your invitation, and in my case all I asked for was a simple email reply. Our Lord also has an RSVP - it's the Bible.

Verse after verse after verse is an invitation to secure eternal life, have peace, enjoy life, find guidance, be filled with joy, overflow with hope and healing... EVERYTHING we could possibly ever need or want has been provided graciously and abundantly by Christ.  The only thing left for us to do is respond.  Will we?

Will we say, "YES!" to the King of Kings and Lord of lords?  

I could not force anyone to attend my kids' weddings; they had to come of their own free will.  We must do the same with Christ.  The invitation has been issued for whoever wants it; we just have to RSVP.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We respond to Your goodness today and accept You into our lives.  We thank You for doing so much for us because we need You every single day.  We are grateful for your generosity and love.  Today we especially respond to Your invitation to provide peace. You said that when we pray Your peace would guard our hearts.  We receive it! In Jesus' name, AMEN.