Holy Permission

Greetings,

See if you can identify with this sequence of events:

1-     You have a need/concern.

2-     You pray.

3-     By faith, you believe God has heard you.

4-     You trust that He is coming up with a plan of action.

5-     God implements the plan!

Sometimes, however, or maybe most of the time, it seems we live stuck between numbers four and five. What are we thinking on those days or even weeks or months when we are still waiting for an answer?

Maybe we give up – doubting God?  Or maybe we don’t want to keep bothering Him with the same thing over and over again?

This is where having the Bible comes in handy.

Then Jesus said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open” (Luke 11:5-10).

These verses give us holy permission to keep on knocking until we receive an answer. We must never give up just because our timeline differs from God's. He wants us to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking because He knows the answer is worth the wait!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, You will always come through for us; we must never give up. Thank You that You have made it clear in Your Word that You want us to be persistent with our prayers. We take You up on that invitation and ask You to bless us today. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

I Have Fought the Good Fight~

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Greetings,

This past week an elderly lady I know, whom I have greatly admired and considered a faith hero for 20 years, was diagnosed with cancer.  It’s pretty serious, and unless God intervenes she will be going home soon.  But there’s a reason I have always looked up to her and called her for prayer whenever I have had a need.  Here’s why.  When the doctor gave her the diagnosis, her very first response was, “I have lived a long life and accomplished God’s purpose for me.  I am ready for heaven.”  Amazing!

I want to be like her.  I want to have the kind of faith that stands strong as I cross the finish line.  I want to be confident that God’s purpose for me is good, powerful, and eternally relevant.  I want to be calm and joyful as I live knowing that I am called to fight the good fight for those I love, and that I will not leave this earth until I have done that.  And when the time comes to cross from here to There, I want to go with peace, having left a legacy for those who are staying behind about the necessity and importance of a relationship with Christ.

May it be so for you as well.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, one day we will all be rejoicing with You without the constraints of time and pains of human life.  The Bible says that heaven is so wonderful that we cannot even comprehend it. Amen to that!  In the meantime, we are alive and living and while we are grateful for life, we need Your daily help to make it.  It is only through Your constant blessings of protection, provision, wisdom, joy, love, peace, healing, and hope that we can make it.  Thank You that You willingly and lovingly come alongside us every single day. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~     

In Response to my Petitions...

Greetings,

The last DEVO I sent highlighted this scripture: “I know the plans I have for you – plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). 

And I was powerfully blessed when within the hour of sending out that DEVO, I found a copy of a test called “The Explorer” that my son, Jorgie, took in 10^th grade.  It was right in a crate among all the old greetings cards I was sorting through.  It highlighted that based on his interests, he would be well-suited for a career in computers. (Please see picture below letter J).  On June 5, 2018, he celebrated one-year working in I.T. at a company in Doral and has already received a promotion.  He loves his job and is really good at it too. 

I sent him and his wife a text message with a picture of the test and said, in part, “For so many years I have been praying for everything concerning my children, trusting that God has heard me.  One big desire was that they would settle into fulfilling careers. And of course, God did hear – every single word!  In response to my petitions, He was busy weaving a beautiful tapestry with purpose and blessings.” 

Imagine my surprise when my daughter-in-law wrote back that they also want Jorgie in distribution! (Please see letter G).

GOD IS GOOD!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, open our eyes to see the good plans You have for our lives -  the ones we are already living and the ones that are yet to come.  Thank You that with You, we will always have a hope-filled future. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God's Greeting Card

Greetings,

I have been in a purging mood lately, so this past week I tackled a crate filled with every Mother’s Day, Birthday, Anniversary, Valentine’s Day, and Thank You card that I have accumulated for the past 30 years.  It was a pleasant trip down memory lane, and also bitter-sweet reading some of the messages that my now-grown children wrote when they were little. 

“Mommy, you’re the best.”

“Thank you for making my favorite lunch every day.”

“I promise to cuddle for 20 minutes.”

All that reminiscing made me think about what God would write to me if He were to give me a card: “Dear Yenise, I know the plans I have for you – plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Those are some of the best words ever written in the Bible and a powerful promise for all God’s children.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You that Your plans for my life are good.  You are willing to provide a hope-filled future, and I receive it.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Taste and See!

"Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the person who trusts in Him” (Psalm 34:8)!

Greetings,

When each of my children was getting married, part of the preparations was tasting the food and wedding cake.  There were so many choices, and even though we could have easily taken the wedding planner’s word for it – that the dishes were all yummy – ultimately, we wanted to check it out for ourselves. We didn’t want to rely on anyone else’s preferences or palate.   

This is exactly what the verse above is saying.  Don’t go by what anyone else has experienced. Get it on the action; take God at His Word for yourself.  You taste, you see, you trust, you reap the blessings!

And did you notice the two exclamations in this scripture?  These well-placed punctuation marks are meant to excite us – to encourage and motivate us to try God out.

Ask yourself, “Where could I use a heaping helping of God's goodness right now?

His provision, His blessings, His protection, His guidance, His healing, His peace, His joy, His hope, His wisdom, HIS ALL?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we want to see it for ourselves - Your goodness running rampant in our lives. Especially in this area (fill in the blank). Thank You that we trust in You and are blessed. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Excess and Overflow!

Greetings,

Let’s revisit the verse from Tuesday’s DEVO.

John 21:6 “Jesus said, “‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

Jesus spoke these words to a weary group of disciples who had been fishing all night but hadn’t caught a single fish.  I bet it was a long and exhausting night for them. Imagine, all that work and nothing to show for it.  Been there/done that.

Ever tried talking sense into a hard-headed child?

Ever tried to stretch a paycheck?

Ever tried to find a place to live?

Ever tried changing jobs?

Ever tried reconciling with a friend or extended family member?

Ever experienced a long season of illness?

Ever dated for years and still haven’t found someone?

The circumstances surrounding all-nighters are endless…

What finally made a difference for these discouraged fishermen? 

J – E – S – U – S

He showed up, made a suggestion, they did it, and “they were unable to haul in the net because of the large number of fish.”

Think of an area of scarcity in your life where you would like excess and overflow.  Now, let’s invite Jesus to show up.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I welcome You into this area of my life that has made many of my nights long for too long:___________.  Turn it around and bless me to the point where there will be so many fish in my net that I can’t haul it in alone!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~    

Fishfinder~

Greetings~

John 21:6 “Jesus said, “‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

I’ve never been much of a fisherman.  The whole putting the bait on a hook and reeling in a suffocating animal does not appeal to me.  Plus, my mind tends to over-dramatize things, so I start to imagine that the fish’s mom will lose her mind trying to find her baby and die of depression…

And yet, I once succumbed to the pressure, put on me by my husband, Jorge, who LOVES fishing, and I went out for the day.

I did not bait my own hook; it was too gross.  But I did cast the line into the crystal-clear waters off Biscayne Bay.  It did not take long to feel a tug on the line, and I admit, it was thrilling.  I reeled in what I thought would be for sure a four-foot giant, but it was a grunt.  Still, it was big enough to be filleted, floured, and fried later that night. 

Jorge says it was all possible because of the “special spot” he took us to, and he found it with the help of a fishfinder, which shows just where the fish are lurking.  Apparently, there are plenty of places under the deep blue sea where fish gather and do not gather – places where they are in abundance and places where they avoid going altogether. Some fish like to go deeper to avoid warm temperatures, and other fish enjoy coral reefs because they can hide from larger predatory fish.  But the fishfinder always, well, finds the fish.   

I like that word – fishfinder – and it is a perfect description of our Lord because HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE “FISH” ARE.

He knows where we should cast the net and where doing so would be a huge waste of time, maybe even dangerous.  He knows where we should go and how to get us there.  He speaks to us through the Bible, and He answers prayer.  He knows what we need and when we need it.  

Jorge is in the real estate rehabbing business.  I always ask the Lord to guide him to the good deals and to help him avoid the bad ones - to let Jorge discover any hidden problems during the inspection period.  I know that Jesus knows where the best business is.  

Every area of our lives can benefit from the Fishfinder.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, show us where to go fishing.  We want to find the kind of abundance that comes from You.  Those are the things that lead to joy, peace, blessing, hope, faith, unity, and love.  We want to avoid everything and anything that is counterproductive to our well- being and our families’ well-being.  You are the One Who knows all the dangers out there.  Guide us and give us wisdom.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~    

 

Look Up

“Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3). 

Greetings,

I have a morning routine that’s about to change.  I am still going to let the dog out, drink one cup of iced coffee, eat a protein bar, catch up on the latest news, read the Bible, and pray.  But after reading this Psalm, I am going to add “wait expectantly” to my customary behavior.  

After all, when I pray it’s because I believe God cares, God hears, and God answers.  And when I “wait expectantly,” or “look up,” which is how the King James translation words this verse, it’s my way of letting God know that I have hope, faith, and confidence that an answer is coming my way.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we all have different requests which we bring to You.  Listen to our voices, Father. We need You and Your power.  We look up to heaven and wait eagerly for Your help.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Breath of Life and Beyond~

Greetings,

All through scriptures, God provides excellent instructions on how to do something right.  He teaches us how to pray, how to treat our neighbor, how to raise our children, how to handle our finances, how to make wise decisions when it comes to dating and marriage…  And one of my favorite lessons is about how to properly bless someone.

“The Lord spoke, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you, and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you a tranquil heart and life’” (Numbers 6:24-26).

It certainly is a beautiful passage, and I have used it often when writing a card for someone’s birthday or wedding day. But until this very day as I sat to share this DEVO, I never realized what the very next verse, 27, says: “Put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Let’s think about this.  When my son was born, Jorge, my husband, was ecstatic about naming him Jorge too.  And I have been told that my son wants to name his future son Jorge also.  All that is fine and dandy, and I understand the sense of pride and joy about having a namesake. But is there any power in the name of Jorge? What about forgiveness in the name of Jorge? Does Jorge console the weary heart? Does Jorge supply all my needs? When we get right down to it, Jorge means “farmer.”  Very one-note, a little cute, I suppose, but kinda ho-hum. Even if I were to say that Jorge means “horticulturist,” it might sound more impressive, but it’s still a FAR cry from the all-encompassing, glorious name of God, which has over 100 meanings in the Bible.

When you and I put the name of God on someone, He becomes their Bread of Life, Healer, Living Water, Provider, Peace, Presence, Comforter…He blesses in profound and powerful ways.  Our part is simple. We open our mouths to pray and put His name on those we love. He shows up with incalculable goodness.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we put Your name on ourselves and our families today.  It brings us so much joy to know we are welcoming Wisdom, Protection, Guidance, the very Breath of Life and beyond into our lives.  Thank You for all You do.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.