A Trifecta of Birthdays

Greetings,

My precious pooch, Hershey Pie, is three years old today! And yesterday was my son's 31st birthday, and tomorrow is my daughter's 28th birthday. This week I am celebrating a trifecta of birthdays!  

I am incredibly blessed to have them in my life, and I marvel at how far God has brought them - especially my human children. God has been with them since their conception and never left their side.  Through every happiness, sorrow, difficulty, joy,  smart decision, dumb decision, up and down, God has been right there.  And  the Bible verse I am praying for them is found in Psalm 138:8, "The Lord will work out His plan for your life for His faithful love endures forever."

God's plan includes "taking care of us," "teaching us," "directing our steps," "watching over us," "granting us wisdom," "blessing us with the desires of our heart," "giving us a full life with firm muscles and strong bones," and SO MUCH MORE....  

And the best part is that Hershey says we can all pray this verse over our lives even if it's not our birthday!

PRAYER:  Dear Lord,  Thank You that You are working out Your beautiful plan for each of us.  Because of Your faithful, enduring love, You desire to see us safe, secure, blessed, wise, at peace, and healthy.  Seeking You each day is the wisest thing we can do because it helps our hearts and minds be in the right place to receive these blessings.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Only Two Options

Greetings,

Anyone who has ever painted understands the complexity of choosing the right color.  Home Depot offers over 10,000 varieties of white alone!  Gloss, semi-gloss, matte, eggshell, Antique White, Cottage White, Dutch White...there's even one called White Lie.   All those choices can be maddening as well as expensive.  (I have been known to purchase 10+ samples trying to find the right color).

God makes our choices more simple.  He only gives us two options:

"Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit  -  you choose" (Proverbs 18:21 THE MESSAGE Version).

It doesn't get any more straightforward than that.  It's uncomplicated and to the point.  Death or life, blessing or curse, good or bad.

Let's choose life. Let's choose to bless! And let's choose GOOD!

The Bible says that when we speak life-giving words, they bring "health and energy to the body," and "are sweet and encouraging to the soul."

How about we start with blessings ourselves?  I could use some health, energy, and encouragement today.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, I choose life for myself and those I love.  I choose to speak words that bless.  I choose good words  -  words that produce sweet fruit.  The greatest words ever written are in Your Bible, so I speak Your Words over my life and declare that You always lead me in triumph, You chose me and lovingly planned for me to be Your child.  I am forgiven, protected, provided for, and loved.  Your peace and grace are with me, and I am strong because of Christ.  Thank You for equipping me with everything I need to live a blessed life.   And thank You that according to 3 John 1:2 You desire for my soul and my body to be healthy.  I receive it! In Jesus' name, AMEN! 

Skip the Pity

Greetings,

A dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer in July, but just yesterday she posted about it on Facebook letting everyone know.  And one of the things she said really ministered to me: “I have cancer, but I don’t want your pity; I need your prayers.”

Let that sink in for a moment.

It’s natural to immediately feel bad for someone. But honestly, what good will that do?

The Bible teaches in James 5:16 that “when a believing person prays, great things happen” (NLT Version).  It doesn’t say, “when a believing person has pity, great things happen.” 

Next time you encounter someone with a need, or when you yourself have something going on, skip the pity and go right to prayer!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You that great things are happening right now because we are in prayer.  None of us wants to waste time worrying or having pity when it’s prayer that makes the difference.  Bless us with peace, joy, hope, health, wisdom, and protection in Jesus’ name. AMEN. 

He's Calling You

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him!” The disciples called the blind man and told him, “Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you” (Mark 10:49)!

Greetings,

Bartimaeus was a blind man who had been calling out to Jesus for mercy.  Christ answered by telling His disciples to call Bartimaeus over.  They encouraged Bartimaeus by saying, “Cheer up!” Other versions of this verse have the disciples saying, "Take courage," "Take heart," "Be of good comfort," "Have confidence," and "Be of good cheer!" Why? Because the Miracle Worker had stopped for him and was calling him over; something amazing was about to take place!

When Bartimaeus and Christ finally meet face to face, Bartimaeus has his eyesight restored. And every single time we call on Christ, He stops, He listens, and invites us over too.  So today, cheer up, take courage, and have confidence. The Miracle Worker is calling you, and something amazing always takes place when we are in His presence.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we are grateful that we can meet face to face with You.  We are comforted because You love us and are listening to us. You are the Miracle Worker, and we invite Your power into our lives. Restore us! Revive us! Renew us! Redeem us! In Your name, we pray, AMEN~

Love Lifted Me

Psalm 30:1 “…You have lifted me up.”

Greetings,

This morning I saw the most beautiful, soul-stirring commercial about dogs and puppies that were being rescued from abandonment and abuse.  And what really surprised me was the song playing in the background, “Love Lifted Me.”  It’s a well-known Christian hymn – one that I grew up singing - and part of the lyrics say, “Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me!”  

Imagine those words accompanied by a sweet melody as puppy after puppy is shown being picked up and snuggled, as dog after dog is cradled and kissed.  (I encourage you to YouTube the song and hear it for yourself).  It blessed my morning.  And I hope it will bless you as well to know that Jesus lifts us out of sin, heartache, sadness, illness, confusion, despair…Whatever it may be, He will rescue us.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for Your mighty love that saves.  Sometimes we feel overwhelmed; sometimes we feel as though we will be overtaken by the problems we face.  But nothing and no one can stand in the way of Your power to lift us up! In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Let's Go!

Greetings,

When I was a little kid I remember seeing a black and white cartoon drawing of a terrified man hunched over in front of the huge, imposing throne of God.  God was sitting there - this enormous faceless presence - pointing a finger the size of the Washington Monument at the man's downcast eyes.  It wasn't a very welcoming sight, and it's also a completely WRONG depiction of our Father God. 

“Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need"(NIV Version).

Disregard any preconceived notions that God is standoffish, disinterested, or worse, foreboding, and threatening.  God welcomes us with open arms, not condemnation.  He's ready to hand out mercy, not disapproval - grace not rejection.  Amen!

The only precursor to receiving help in our time of need is that we have to go to Him.   

Let's go!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we approach You right now knowing that You long to be kind and compassionate to us.  We need it, so help us in our time of need. In Jesus’ name, Amen~

No More Disappointment!

Greetings,

Years ago, a very wise cola company promised, “everyone is a winner” with their prize give-a-way promotion.  All you had to do was purchase one of their beverages and whatever was listed inside the bottle cap was yours.  Of course, Jorge and I took the bait, and that’s the only refreshment we purchased for a while. We loved getting free drinks and candy bars in the process, but one day we hit the jackpot!

Jorge and I were thrilled to learn we had won a remote-control caddy.  We followed all the instructions to claim our prize and waited eagerly for its arrival. Jorge had visions of playing golf with an automated club carrier, and I was all excited that he would be the talk of the course.

Six weeks later the box arrived, and we knew right away there was a mistake.  How can you fit a caddy into a box that was 10 inches long and 10 inches wide?

Well, when the remote-control caddy the beverage company was giving away was a black plastic organizer to keep the TV remote nearby, that packaging was more than adequate.  Talk about disappointment!

Experiencing disappointment is a fact of life.  Not one of us will go through life 100% satisfied 100% of the time.  But the day is coming when we will never be disappointed again.

I can barely imagine what that will be like.  No more headaches, hassles, or stress.  No more sadness, frustration, or fear. No more bitter pills to swallow, worry, or tension. Everyone getting along perfectly, and everyone and everything at peace having fun with Jesus…forever...      

Romans 10:11 "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED" (New American Standard Bible).

This verse actually appears in all caps in the NASB version of the Bible, and it’s because God wants to get our attention.  He wants us to embrace this beautiful promise when we’ve had a rough day.  He wants us to thank Him that heaven’s joy awaits and the hope He gives will get us through this life too.  God wants us to be completely and totally uplifted by the assurance that soon enough it will get better and last forever.

Next time we experience disappointment, let us take a moment to remind ourselves that disappointment – no matter how harsh – is only temporary.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for this verse.  Life is beautiful, but it has its difficult seasons.  We needed to be reminded that one day only the good shall remain!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

A Blessing~

Greetings,

What’s happening in your life right now?  Are you busy preparing a first-time high schooler or kindergartner for back-to-school? Maybe you are caring for an elderly parent or little baby? Perhaps you are dealing with a difficult relationship, nursing someone back to health, or putting up with difficulties at work because your family needs you? Even if you're just living your life in general, loving those around you, and cooking dinner, getting the oil changed in the car, and smiling at strangers, I speak this blessing over you today:

“May the Lord repay you for what you are doing. May you be richly rewarded by Him, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12).

These encouraging words were spoken to a young woman who, while enduring great difficulty, put her trust in God.  She also demonstrated loyalty and love to her mother-in-law to such an excellent degree that it caught the attention of a wonderful man who eventually married her and changed the course of her life, dramatically and for the better.  Her name was Ruth and besides having her own book in the Bible, she is also named in the genealogy of Jesus.  Pretty impressive!

As you think about your daily life, struggles, heroic efforts, and/or courageous sacrifices, receive the blessing above as TRUTH.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we receive this blessing and thank You that we are richly rewarded when we do what is right and good.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God's Telephone Number~

Greetings,

Over the weekend I received a postcard inviting me to my 35-year high school reunion. What? I graduated high school over 30 years ago?  Amazing how time flies, and of course I took a little trip down memory lane. The one glaring difference between now and then is the cellphone.  We are connected 24/7 to everyone and everything.  But when I was wearing Jordache jeans and dragging my white suede, red-swooshed Nikes down the hallowed halls of Shamrock High, we had to use payphones to communicate.  A whopping .10¢ per call.  I remember some days I would leave the house at 6:00 AM and not speak with my mom until 5:00 PM later in the day.  Today, it would be unthinkable to go more than an hour or two (or even less) without sending an email, text, or making a quick call.  I love the ease with which we can reach out to each other.  But what I love even more is that our Lord has always been easy to reach.  There has never been a limitation or restriction when it comes to connecting with Him, and we don’t have to dial or be near a computer either. 

“Call to Me and I will answer you.  I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out” (Jeremiah 33:3). 

It’s mind-blowing to know the Maker of heaven and earth is willing to share marvelous and wondrous info we would otherwise never understand. And while the verse doesn’t promise to tell us everything about everything, we can have faith that if we need to know it, He will tell us.  He will speak into our lives, our messes, and problems.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I call upon You today to tell me marvelous things that will bless me and help me make wise decisions.  I call upon You to tell me wondrous things so my faith, peace, joy, and trust stay aflame!   In Jesus’ name, AMEN~