Open the Door

Revelation  3:20 "Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking!  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with Me."

Greetings,

Over the years I have watched plenty of interviews where they ask this question: If you could have dinner with any famous person who would it be and why?

Oprah seems to be a popular answer, and I am sure if I could spend some time with her  over vaca frita, congris, and mariquitas smothered in garlic, it would make for quite an interesting meal!

Somehow, however, I don't think she would accept my invitation. 

But there is Someone immensely more loving, gracious, powerful, awesome, and merciful Who wants to share a meal with us.  And He does not require an invitation because He is already knocking on the door.

Can You hear Him?

"Open the door, all you who carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

"Open the door, and I will give you peace at all times and in every situation." (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

"Open the door, and I will watch over your life." (Psalm 121:7)

Let's open the door right now and invite the Lord into our homes.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, give us ears to hear Your voice.  Some of us have ignored You,  and yet You keep on knocking because You long to make our lives better.  We open the door to You right now and are thankful for  the blessings You bring.   In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Go Toward the Light!

John 8:12 "Jesus spoke and said, 'I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life."

I like having plants in my home, but I do not have a green thumb. On the contrary, I am the antithesis of a green thumb, which thesaurus.com says is a brown thumb. That’s funny!

Nevertheless, I have one plant in particular that is a fighter. This green leafy vine has dutifully lived in a parrot planter for over three years now and survived my sporadic attention. I water it when I remember, and sometimes I’ll say something nice like, “Thank you for not dying.” Sometimes I am insensitive and will say, “I can’t believe you’re still here!” But I noticed something remarkable the other day: The entire plant was leaning in one direction, and I finally figured out that it was sun-starved.  In an effort to revive itself – (because I am no help) – it was reaching toward the bright and beautiful light.

What need do you have right now? Do you need peace in your weary heart? Do you need joy in your family? Do you need help in making a decision? Do you need health in your mind, body, and/or soul? God has bright and beautiful things for us, and the way to invite that into our lives is by doing what my little plant did: Revive yourself, and go toward the Light.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We lean into You right now through prayer. We need Your guidance and wisdom; thank You that we DO NOT HAVE TO WALK IN DARKNESS.   Give us clarity of mind and shine Your light into our lives. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES DEPENDS ON IT!

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord, JESUS!

Last week I was running errands, and as I was pulling into the parking lot of a craft store, I realized I left my cell phone at home.  I was too far from home to turn around and get it, but don’t think the thought didn’t cross my mind.  I found myself rushing to get everything done on my list so I could hurry home and get it.  It felt weird to be unplugged and disconnected from the rest of the world.  I usually send texts throughout the day to different folks, and I am always on the alert from any messages from my family and friends.  And who can live without “Breaking News” bulletins?

But when I finally made it home and grabbed my phone, there was nothing new.  No missed calls, no messages, no alerts, N-O-T-H-I-N-G!  The world did not, in fact, end because I was unplugged from it for a couple of hours.   

Can the same be said of our relationship with the Lord?  Can we stay unplugged from Him for extended periods of time and be okay? Can we stay disconnected from the One Who nourishes our souls and have joy? Peace? Health? Hope? Faith? Trust?

 

When was the last time any of us felt the urge to “turn around” from whatever we were doing so we could connect with Jesus? Do we find ourselves “rushing” to get to Him? Do we even feel anxious when we forget about Him?

What if we were all as diligent in our communication with God as we are in our communication with everyone else via every device and social media available?  Is any of this even important?

I will only answer that last question: YES! The quality of our lives depends on it!

When we become active seekers of God, our strength is renewed (Isaiah 40:31), our prayers are answered (John 16:24), joy is abundant (Acts 13:52), we will be led in peace (Isaiah 55:12), our paths are made straight (Proverbs 3:6) etc…etc…etc…

I had to put three “etc…s” because there are just too many blessings to write them all down.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We are so passionate about our communication. Most of us can’t stand the thought of not having our phone with us for more than a few minutes.  I, for one, enjoy reaching out to my grown up children at least once a day, and thank You for letting that happen. But You are the source of every good thing in this world and in the world to come; staying connected with You blesses us in immeasurable ways, and we are grateful. Thank You for reminding us today that the greatest relationship we will ever have is the one with You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~     

Powerful and Productive!

Greetings,

We are all results-oriented people.  We clean up our homes because it results in a tidy environment.  We cook dinner because it results in a meal that satisfies our hunger.  We go to work because it results in a paycheck.  We go to the movies because it results in our entertainment.  We study hard for a test because it results in a good grade.  We apologize so that our evening results in peace and not war. We put on our best behavior when we go out on a date because we hope it will result in another date and more.

We should all, then,  pray fervently about everything and anything because ""The earnest prayer of a righteous man [believer] has great power and produces wonderful results" James 5:16.

Our prayers produce results too! WONDERFUL RESULTS!

We pray because it results in our having peace, provision, guidance, joy, protection, faith, and healing.

We pray because it turns the heart of our floundering kid around, and it turns the heart of a father back to the home.

We pray because addictions are no match for God's great power.

We pray because (FILL IN THE BLANK) is no match for God's great power either.

Next time you pray remind yourself that what you are about to do is powerful and productive.  Praying about everything is effective and makes great things happen.  It's not earnest complaining or earnest worrying that brings about the changes we need.  It's PRAYER!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that what I am doing right now is producing a wonderful result in my life.  I need it!  Thank You that Your great power comes when I pray. Today I need a powerful result in this area: ____________________________, and I am expecting an answer.   Remind me  that complaining and worrying produce nothing. Help me, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Holy Benefits Package!

Good morning!

One of the most important things job applicants look into when considering employment are the benefits.  Most every employer offers them, and sometimes the way future employees are wooed into a new company is by being presented with an  extensive benefits package. 

Health insurance, stock options, college tuition payments, and two weeks vacation are great  - if you can get them. However, as God's children, we all have a Holy benefits package that is the best one ever!

Psalm 103 (I used THE MESSAGE version for this DEVO) COMMANDS us to "not forget all of His benefits."

Let's refresh our memories bullet point by bullet point:

·         Forgives all our sins

·         Heals all our diseases

·         Saves our lives

·         Crowns us with love and mercy

·         Wraps us in goodness

·         Renews our youth

·         Makes everything come out right

·         Not easily angered

·         Rich in love

·         Sheer mercy and grace

·         Makes everything right for us and our children

God woos us as well.  He wants us to choose Him because He desperately wants to lavish us with His benefits.

Let's accept!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your incomparable benefits; unlike the limitations of benefits on earth, Yours keep on giving. You continually forgive us, heal us, save us, crown us, and wrap us up in Your love.  Thank You that You are making everything right for us and those we love.  We receive all Your benefits, in Jesus' name! Amen~

Good, Perfect, and Acceptable!

Isaiah 50:4 "...morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will."

Good morning,

If you are alive this morning thank the Lord; He is the One Who wakes us up!  But He does so much more than that. He give us life and an eye-opening comprehension of how He wants us to live. 

He wants us to be blessed, joyful, at peace, healthy, and forgiving.  He wants us to be patient, kind, and loving.  He wants us to live by the golden rule, and keep our comments to ourselves.  He wants us to rely on Him when we need to make decisions  -  big or small  -   and He wants us to trust Him for all our needs. He wants us to fully embrace that He is a gracious God and be thankful  every day all day. Most importantly, He wants us to invite Jesus into our hearts so that we can have eternal life. 

All of the above is  described in the Bible as "good, perfect, and acceptable."

Why would any of us resist welcoming something good, perfect, and acceptable into our lives?  Do we really think we can do better on our own?  What would our lives look like if all those things God wants for us were 100% happening right now in our families?

As we rise up out of bed every day, we have also been given the capacity to open up our lives to God's best for us. Let's let Him in!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We welcome Your good, perfect, and acceptable will into our lives.  Make us sensitive to Your life-giving and life-changing instruction.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

A Safe Haven

Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall."

Greetings,

Jorge and I like the beach  -  especially early in the morning.  We always take a little wagon filled with towels, food, a radio, swim noodles, a radio, sunscreen etc...But the most important thing we take  -  the one thing that will enable us to enjoy our day  -  is our pop-up tent.  Positioned just right, it is the perfect barrier between us and the hot smoking sun.

God covers us as well.  He does so completely, and it's a safe haven.  No matter how hot it gets, we are protected and secure under His wings.   This happens when we pray, and we will always find refuge when we seek it.

Let us seek!

PRAYER: Dear Lord,  We look to You today to be our protector.  It is comforting to know that in an increasingly dangerous world, You keep us from evil and temptation.  When we are under Your wings, we are close to Your heart and that gives us peace.  How beautiful it is to pray and activate our faith in You.  In Jesus' name, Amen~

Salt of the Earth

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth..."

Greetings,

I have been called a lot of things throughout my lifetime, like "mouth of the south," and "dramaticus," (we can all thank Jorge for that rudeness), but "salt of the earth" ranks as one of my favorites.  It's a reminder that one of my primary focuses  -  and yours  -   has to be on relieving the blandness all around us.

People can be blah, politics can be tedious, the economy can be flat, life in general can take on a dull as dishwater meaning, but we are called to spice it up.  We are not the vinegar of the earth.  We don't need to be leaving a bitter taste in anyone's mouth.  

Rather,  we are to season everyone around us with grace and goodness.  Using salt brings out the best, and we should too!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us to be gracious and good to everyone we meet.  Help us say the right words, help us do the right thing, help us to keep our comments and judgments to ourselves. When everyone is at their best, we enjoy being in their company.  In Jesus' name, Amen~

No Side Effects!

Thursday greetings,

I always get a kick out of the warning disclosures that come at the end of drug commercials.  One announcer, who lauds a certain medication's depression fighting abilities, actually says, in a blink-or-you'll-miss-it-speed, "Please consult your doctor if you experience suicidal thoughts while taking this medication." What? I don't get it.

Listen closely to all these advertisements or read the disclaimers at the bottom of your screen, and there is always some side effect.  Treatments for your heart might affect your liver, or pills for your liver might affect your kidneys.  Even something simple like cough syrup has warning labels.  Kind of makes one think twice before taking anything.

But there is one thing we can all turn to when we are not well that has zero contraindications and is 100% great for your body  -  bringing health to every single part; it's called the Bible!

Proverbs 4:20-22 "...turn your ear to my words...keep them within your heart; they are healing and health to one's whole body."

The words of the Bible will treat whatever ails us and bless our entire self in the process.  

Follow the link below, type in your concern  -  loneliness, sadness, guidance, work, relationships, fear, anger, money  -  then treasure the words in those verses to receive healing and health.

www.openbible.info/topics

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that Your word is 100% great for us; no need to fear side effects.  We welcome Your wisdom and power into our lives.  In Jesus' name, Amen!