He Lifts our Spirits!

Greetings,

Back in the 70s there was a famous commercial where a frazzled, harried, stressed out working mom would say, "Calgon, take me away!"  Next thing we knew, she was chilling in a warm bath with a smooth voice in the background saying, "Lose your cares in the luxury of a Calgon bath...it lifts your spirits..."

Somehow I remembered this well-known line, and to this day whenever I need a break I will also say, "Calgon, take me away!"  

But between you and me, I am not necessarily stepping into a relaxing bath that promises to soften my skin as much as I am admitting that I need a break.

What do I do when I need to get away from the madness and mayhem?

"I call on the LORD in my distress, and He answers me" Psalm 120:1.

So many many times I have started a prayer worried, afraid, or upset about something, only to breathe out the "Amen" and feel encouraged and ready to get back in the swing of things. 

Nothing will lift our spirits the way the LORD will. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I pray right now believing You answer.  I come to You and I indulge in Your presence.  I lose my cares in You.  I leave my distress in Your capable hands and thank You for answering me.  I receive Your peace.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Write it Down!

Greetings,

Yesterday my daughter and I went out for a rare mid-week breakfast, and it would have been perfectly fine except one of my greatest pet peeves was on full display. The lovely and courteous waitress committed our entire order to memory as opposed to writing it down.  I thought about saying something, but since she was so sweet and obviously confident in her retention skills, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I shouldn't have. She forgot the applewood smoked turkey sausage I asked for. 

God really wants us to write things down for the same reason. When we take the time to remind ourselves about God's love, His provision, and His guidelines for beautiful and blessed living, we are less likely to make mistakes. 

  

"Listen, The Lord is our God, and we must love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. We must commit ourselves to His commands...write them down. We must do what is right and good in the sight of our Lord so that it may be well with us" (ICB Version / Deuteronomy Chapter 6)!

I have several verses written down (Okay, they are typed and printed out, but it's the same concept) that I have posted around my desk, nightstand, and even in the bathroom.  I have also purchased several signs that I have hung up around the house that constantly remind of what is important. 

Pick an encouraging verse, and then WRITE IT DOWN! Put it where you can see it.  Many times I will give Jorge a verse written on a sticky note, and he will put in on his steering wheel. When you follow through with God's advice it will comfort you, it will bless you, and most importantly, it will be well with you.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We need to be constantly reminded of Your presence in our life. Thank You that You are willing to give us whatever we need as often as we need it. Your Holy Bible provides a practical and inspiring verse about how we can always have You in mind: We must write things down. As we seek encouraging verses to make our own today, guide us. We love You, and we thank You. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

 

Saddle Your Horse!

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD" Proverbs 21:31.

Tuesday greetings,

You and I were created to use our brains and make meaningful contributions in this life.  We were made to grow in our responsibilities.  Adam, the first human ever created lived in a sin-free world, but he wasn't lounging around sipping virgin piña coladas all days while tamed monkeys fanned him with palm fronds. Adam was hard at work naming the animals.  "Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field" Genesis 2:20.  I am certain God could have easily done this Himself, but He knows that when we have something to do it makes our lives more meaningful. I can't imagine lying around all day and doing nothing.  I enjoy feeling productive and like what I have done has made a difference. I like that God expects me to do my part - that I should and do have active faith.

Even so I have met all sorts of folks who are all about placing a lot of responsibility on God and not nearly enough on themselves.    

“I don’t wear a seat belt because God will protect me.”

“I don’t need health insurance because God is my doctor.”

“I know God has a soul mate for me, and He will send the right one my way even though I never go out because I am too busy binge watching TV.”

God does heal, protect, and provide, but we just learned in the very beginning of the Bible that Adam named the animals.  We all have to do our part!  Noah built the ark, Moses lifted the staff to part the Red Sea, David yanked back on that slingshot and let the stones fly straight into Goliath’s forehead, Hannah had to make love to her husband to get pregnant with the child God promised, and Christ Himself became human to save our souls.

We prepare, plan, battle, and pray, and God gives the victory. We have a job to do, and God does as well. The verse in the heading makes us responsible for saddling up the horse but puts the responsibility for the win in God's capable hands!

Amazing things happen when our measly selves partner with God.  Giants tumble and children of promise are born.   Obstacles that block our path move out of the way and entire families are saved!

What victory does God have for us today?  Better yet, what do we need to be preparing, planning, and praying over so God can bring the victory?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We want to be ready, and the first step in any good battle plan is to pray.  Give us the wisdom to saddle up our “horses” to be effective in battle.  And thank You that the victory is in Your hands!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~  

Carte Blanche

Greetings,

A little over three years ago I downloaded a language app on my phone and have been learning French ever since.  I would say that at this point I am slightly conversational.  One thing I have really enjoyed is how French words have found their way into our English vocabulary.  For example: matinee/morning, bon voyage/have a good trip, and déjà vu/feeling of experiencing or seeing something again...

There is even an implied French phrase in the Bible: Carte blanche, which means "complete freedom" or "blank check" (dictionary.com).

Ephesians 6:18 "Pray in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is..." (GOD's WORD Translation).

If we were to rewrite that verse to accommodate my love of French it would say, "Pray always and about everything and anything. You have carte blanch with me, your Lord. You are completely free to pray about whatever you want to.  There is no request too big or too insignificant. You have a blank check at your disposal. Fill it out with whatever is on your heart. I welcome you every time you whisper My name."

When we think about what's happening in the world right now it almost seems silly to grab the hand of a little child and pray to find their lost toy.  It seems rather insulting that we would waste God's time by asking for a better parking spot.  Certainly God cannot be bothered with my need to have the energy to finish painting the family room.

Except, that He wants to be asked about it all! The verse above makes it clear that He is 100% concerned about every aspect of our lives.

I am glad that I don't have to worry whether my prayer request is valid or not or important enough. And  I find it monumentally comforting that when I pray for a fifth grader to make friends and for God to guide a wayward teenager - all in the same day - God hears, receives, cares, and answers both requests!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the glorious freedom You offer us in prayer.  It is wonderful to know that You want to hear about every little itty bitty detail about us.  We need You so much and are so blessed that You are so merciful, kind, and generous.  We are grateful for Your willingness to extend Your comfort and provision to every single area of our lives.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.   

Choosing Sides

Greetings,

This past weekend I went to a volleyball tournament to support my son-in-law who coaches the varsity girls' team at St. Brendan.  Typically, if the team is playing on the left side of the court, the spectators sit on the left side of the gym to support them and vice versa.  Sometimes, however, it gets really crowded and you may find yourself sitting on the opposite side. This brought back memories of when Rayray played in high school.

One year during a regional playoff game, Jorge and I unwittingly found ourselves seated in the middle of a bunch of ravenous fans for the opposing team.  It was okay at first, until Rayray came up to serve and they started wishing she would make a mistake.  From there it escalated.  "Miss it!" "Hit it out!"  I was so uncomfortable and praying that Jorge, Rachel's biggest fan on earth, would  keep his cool. After all, he has been known to vocally express his outrage when a referee makes a dumb call!  And yes, those were my Tai Bo years, but I wasn't sure how well I'd fare if a riot broke out. Oh how I wished I were sitting with those who were for my team.

If I would have been sitting on the other side of the gym, I would have no doubt heard encouraging words.  I would have seen a group united by a common desire to see Rayray and all the girls play well.  I would have been surrounded by others who were rallying for victory.

We all have to choose between two sides as well.  Are we going to be on God's side or not?  Are we going to believe what He says or not? Are we going to do what He says or not? Are we going to choose life or death?  Are we going to rally with other brothers and sisters in Christ and encourage each other or not?  Are we going to surround ourselves with others who want us to succeed or not? Are we going to keep the faith or not?

I CHOOSE GOD.

The alternative is unacceptable.  The Bible teaches that if we choose Him we will have a blessed, good, fulfilling  life here and in eternity. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We choose You today.  Even though there are times of discouragement, You strengthen our faith to keep believing.  It is always better to stick with You because a life of faith has a promised reward.  Even when it looks like our side is losing, we know that victory is ours! Help us keep the faith, and always help us to encourage everyone who is on our side. . In Jesus' name, AMEN. 

The Greatest Gift

Dear Friends,

Right after I found out Rachel was pregnant a buddy of mine sent me The Power of a Praying Grandparent.  It has been such a joy praying for this sweet little baby who will be joining our family in 13 short weeks!  I have found a renewed sense of purpose as I ask the Lord to bless her,  protect her,  and fill her with respect and love for her parents and Him.  My own faith has deepened as I have entrusted her life into His mighty and capable hands as well as called upon Him to give Baby Ellie wisdom - especially when it comes to choosing friends.  This prayer journey has been rewarding, and I will admit that more than once my soul has rejoiced when I have come across certain passages from the book like this one, "One of the greatest gifts of love you can give anyone is to pray for them" (Omartian, Stormie. “Chapter 12.  pg.72” The Power of a Praying Grandparent, Harvest House Publishers, 2016).

It is a gift because according to the Bible in James 5:16 prayer is, "powerful and effective," "produces wonderful results," "has great power," "accomplishes much," and "exerts a mighty influence on God." 

When you put it that way I would agree that prayer is indeed a gift - the greatest possible gift we humans can give!

Who do you love who could use this gift today?

What wonderful results would you like to see in the life of someone special to you?

Really think about it and then let's pray!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We love you and approach You with confidence.  How amazing that this time with You is powerful and effective.  How can it be that we, mere humans, exert a mighty influence on You? It doesn't really have much to do with us other than that we were smart enough for a moment to realize that we can do nothing or bless no one apart from Your power and love.  We life up those we love and pray for them today. We are humbled and excited to give them this gift of prayer because we desire to see wonderful results in their lives.  I specifically pray for __________________________ who needs _________________________.

In Jesus' beautiful name, Hallelujah and Amen!

Take the Leap!

Greetings,

Our country is so great that a lot of folks want to live here.  Some arrive legally, some don't, and some even risk death to get to our shores.  Most are looking for what my family wanted when we arrived in 1966: The opportunity for a better life!

The older I get the more I appreciate the guts it took for my family to leave their native land and start over in a foreign country.  My grandfather was 52 when he arrived here, and now that I am that age I wonder how I could handle leaving the U.S. and all my extended family and friends and starting over with Jorge, my kids, and grandkids in another non-English speaking country with no money, no house, and no job.  I would like to think that if it meant we were going to a place with the promise of a better and brighter future I would take the leap!

Heaven is the ultimate promise of the best and brightest future, and God wants us to take the leap and establish our citizenship with His kingdom. 

"Mount Zion is the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of thousands of angels in festive gathering, and to Christian citizens.  You are joining the righteous ones who have been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, and it is your final glory..." (Hebrews 12:22-24).

Living with God, Jesus, the angels, and perfectly perfect citizens? I want this to be my final glory and my final home. 

How? It's almost like when I became a citizen in 1979.  I filled out a bunch of paperwork and pledged an oath of allegiance to the United States.  Citizenship in heaven is easier.  We simply pray. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We take a leap of faith today and open our hearts to You to welcome You into our lives.  We realize that we are profoundly blessed to live in the United States, but our ultimate and glorious destination is with You.  We look forward to the wonder of heaven.  Thank You that we have so much to look forward to .  In the meanwhile, bless us on earth.  Protect us and give us Your peace and provision.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Brighter and More Beautiful!

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 "...God is a living, personal presence...There is nothing between us and Him, our lives become brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him" (The Message Version).

Greetings and blessings in the name of the One Who richly blesses!

The other day I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror after my post-shower routine, and I suddenly realized:  I HAVE BECOME MY GRANDMOTHER!

I couldn't help but chuckle.  Mamá, as I called her, always smelled like fresh talcum powder and flowery cologne.  Whenever she lounged it was in her pink robe, and her hair was safely ensconced in a shower cap. 

Plus, you could never leave her house without being asked if you were hungry a million times, and even if the repeated answer was "No!", a plate of food, usually homemade empanadas,  would magically appear in case you changed your mind three seconds later.  Oh oh...I truly have become Mamá!

It kind of makes sense. 

I loved my grandmother  very much - she passed in 2010 a few days shy of her 92nd birthday - and I spent a lot of time with her.  When I was a little kid we lived together for six years.  When my family moved out it was to an apartment a few doors down.  And for the last 20 years of her life, she lived less than a mile away, and I saw her almost daily.   My Mamá was a constant and comforting presence in my life.  That saying, "You become like those you hang out with," is so true!

Therefore, dearest DEVO readers, the more time we spend with God the more like Him we become. 

He is love, peace, joy, patience, faith, hope, mercy, grace, forgiveness...and I hope, as I evaluate my life, that after so many years of connecting with Him that I too am more loving, full of peace, joyful, patient, faithful, hopeful, merciful, gracious, and forgiving.

I pray that all our lives have "become brighter and more beautiful!"

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We life up our voices to You and welcome You into our lives.  We could all use more beauty right now.  And with all the darkness that overshadows this earth, we all need more of Your bright light as well.  Fill us with YOU.  Crowd out the hate, fear, sadness, indifference, ugliness and unforgiveness, in Jesus' name. Amen.

May Peace and Mercy Outweigh Evil

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

By now we have all seen the heartbreaking news of the horrible attack yesterday in Las Vegas. As I watched the news I couldn't stop the tears. My own kids have gone to many outdoor events, and the thought that a crazy evil person could do this to them. Well, let's just say that sometimes my faith falters...

At one point I asked myself if praying at a moment like this even makes a difference.  Would it do any good to ask God to comfort those who have lost a loved one? Why so much evil? Does the Lord even care?

Faltering faith is not the same as having no faith.  It just means that sometimes we are shaken, but then we press on, connect with God, cast our anxiety on Him, give Him all our worries, and throw the whole weight of our concerns upon Him.

When we do that our load lightens. 

The truth is that my faith is always strengthened after I pray.  I may have to connect with the Lord several times in a day to keep the faith, but that's okay: He puts no limits on me or you.

As we pray today let us believe we are making a difference.  Let us accept as fact that God hears and responds.  Let us push past the fear and doubt and trust that God cares for us and answers our calls for help and protection.  Let us invite the Lord to pour out His peace on our weary nation. Yesterday our President invoked this Bible verse: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalms 147:3).  Let us accept this as the gospel truth!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your unconditional love for us.  We are heartbroken for yesterday's victims.  So much destruction and heartache - but we believe that You have the power to help and to heal. Pour out Your goodness into Las Vegas and into the United States of America.  We ask for Your divine protection from all the dangers in this world. May Your peace and mercy outweigh the evil in this country. Cover the wounded and hurting in Your love.  Cover us in Your love too. In Jesus' name, AMEN.