NOT ONE THING

Greetings,

I have a cold.  My eyes are watery, my throat hurts, I have a wacky cough, and my nose is stuffy.  But worse still is that I cannot, will not, kiss or cuddle with my little precious granddaughter.  For the past couple of days when she has arrived, she runs to me expecting the typical greeting, which consists of me squeezing her and hugging her and smooching with that chubby face.  However, I literally turn my back to her because I don’t want her to catch my cold.   To make it up to her, I allow her to watch a little extra Bluey, her favorite TV show.  But today before she left, she came up to me and hugged my legs.  Cue the tears! She does not understand that I have to keep her at arm’s length.

I hope we all understand however, that our Father GOD loves us and that nothing – NOT ONE THING – exists (certainly not a cold) that can ever make Him turn His back on us. The actual bible verse is so powerful:

“Neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

These verses settle it: Nothing we have ever done or will do can keep God from loving us.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please help us to accept this truth.  If we pray knowing we are passionately and permanently loved, it strengthens our faith to trust that You know best.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

A Living Testimony

“Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12:14).

Greetings,

The national headlines have been featuring a story out of Dallas all week about a former police officer, Amber Guyger, who shot and killed a neighbor, Botham Jean. She went into his apartment thinking it was hers and mistook him for an intruder.   

She was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison.  But it was the victim’s brother’s gesture that has profoundly impacted me.

Brandt Jean, 18 years old, asked the judge if he could hug Ms. Guyger saying, “I forgive you…and I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you…I want the best for you because that’s exactly what Botham  would want…and the best would be, give your life to Christ.”

They hugged for a long time, and I watched in shock.  Afterward, I praised God that the verses above are doable. I also praised God that an 18-year-old took me to church.  Mr. Brandt’s living testimony has taught me that I need to pay attention to the clothes I wear.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for the powerful example set by this young man.  Bless him for trusting Your Word and doing things Your way.  Heal his heart and heal ours as we also clothe ourselves with love. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

CUT AND PASTE THE LINK TO SEE THE VIDEO: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/02/amber-guyger-sentencing-botham-jeans-brother-embraces-guyger/3847967002/

I Need to be Flooded With God

Greetings,

If you were to sit down and start a list of everyone you know, could you write their complete name, address and phone number? Honestly, I can't even do that with my own children.  I know one lives in the NW and the other in the SW, but I would have to reference my contacts for their exact location.  And even after several years of having my in-law kids in the family, I HAVE NO CLUE as to their phone numbers.  Speed dial has robbed me of this information.  I am so accustomed to clicking on a name that I am not even sure what area code I would have to dial first.  If I ever lost my phone I would be in trouble.

In stark and magnificent contrast is our Father God and His infinite knowledge of us, His very finite and limited children. He knows all our names, where we live, and how to get in contact with us.  He also knows what we need and what makes us tick.  He is acutely aware of every single detail, like the freckle on your pinky toe as well as your heart's desire to get married and have children.  He knows what we are afraid of,  and He knows what makes us happy.  He knows our dreams, and He knows our sorrows.  HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYONE, and His grandeur is hard to fathom and impossible to calculate with our feeble human minds.

But just because we cannot comprehend the "extravagant dimensions, breadth, length, depth, or height" (Ephesians 3:18) of God's goodness, wisdom, love, and power, doesn't mean we shouldn't take a step of faith every day in prayer asking the One Who knows us best to help us live full lives.  Living a full life means we personally experience God's presence in our lives - "we are flooded with God Himself" (Ephesians 3:19).

I need to be flooded with God.  I need torrential downpours of peace, joy, and protection.  I crave a deluge of wisdom, provision, and health.  I desperately long to be inundated with the light of the One Who knows my name, phone number, address, and more!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, flood us with Your presence today.  We want to experience Your blessings in real, palpable ways.  Send rains of happiness and contentment. Send rivers of well-being and stability. Shower us with righteousness so we live wisely. We receive forgiveness from Your never-ending fountain; let us in turn let bygones be bygones.  Thank You for knowing how earnestly we need You and all You provide. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Personally Prospering

“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city [where you live]. Pray to the LORD for it, because if [Miami] prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7.

Greetings,

Recently, as students across Miami prepared for back-to-school, I found myself praying for safety.  I have five nieces and nephews who are part of the school system, I have several friends with kids who are preschoolers to high school seniors, and my son-in-law is a teacher/coach at a local parochial school. It’s nerve wracking to think about all the real and life-threatening dangers that are out there.  That’s why it really blessed me to ask God to cover my city – especially all the children – with His wings.  I implored Him to keep everyone safe while traveling to and from school, to shelter them from people with evil intentions, and to protect them from injury while playing sports etc…

And then this morning I read the verse above and realized that in praying for my city, I was benefiting myself.  When we PRAY for our communities, not complain, not gripe, not count the days until we can move away, we will personally prosper – we will flourish, thrive, and benefit right where we are. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for making it clear in the verse above that prayer brings prosperity into the cities where we live.  We all desire to live in safe and economically sound places. And like every other good and necessary blessing in our lives, it all begins with prayer.  Bless (Miami) in Jesus name! May every single person who lives here acknowledge You as Father God. AMEN!

Worthless Words

“Do not let worthless words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear you speak” (Ephesians 4:29).

Greetings,

The human mouth is capable of a lot.  It eats, chews gum, yawns, spits, kisses, and blows bubbles.  But by far and away, the most powerful thing it does is speak.  

This month my little granddaughter’s Sunday school is teaching all the precious toddlers that God made them just the way they are, and that each of them is beautiful!  You would think or hope this lesson is unnecessary, but a mother shared that growing up she was mercilessly bullied for being too thin by ADULTS.  “Eat some more. You’re a waif!”  “Put rocks in your pockets before you blow away.”  

What saved her was her own mother relentlessly affirming her that she was perfectly perfect created by a loving God to look exactly the way she did.  That’s what I call putting your mouth to wise use.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we want to be the kind of people who bless others with the words we speak.  Forgive us for all the worthless words we’ve spoken.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

At the Right Time

​“He has made everything beautiful in its time…” (Ecclesiastes 3;11).

Greetings,

I have a binder filled with notes I have accumulated over the years of inspirational quotes and sayings.  I look through it periodically, and this past weekend I leafed through it and read this: “Do not fear when your prayers and faith pile up. Eventually, they will be like a flood bringing answers and blessings.”

I do not know who said it, but what an encouraging word.  At the right time, everything will be beautiful. In the meantime, let’s add to the pile!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we want our answers now, honestly.  But we specks-of-dust humans humbly defer to You and Your unlimited wisdom and power. Give us the grace and peace to wait upon You.  Thank You for the promise of beauty in our lives, and thank You for the upcoming flood of answers. It is worth the wait.  In Jesus’ name. AMEN.​

A Wildly Wonderful World

“What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, You made earth overflow with Your wonderful creations” (Psalm 104:24 The MESSAGE Version).

Greetings,

What’s your favorite thing about nature? Is it a field of wildflowers? What about a snow-capped mountain peak? Does looking out an airplane window at the world below take your breath away? Maybe it’s the Grand Canyon?  For me it’s always been sunsets at the beach.  This past weekend I witnessed the closing of yet another day, and it was spectacular. 

I found myself thanking God because He, in His incomparable creativity and wisdom, calls me His child and is willing to help me.  

Take a minute to think about what you find awe-inspiring and then pray. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, we thank You for our wildly wonderful world.  When we see the overflow of Your wonderful creations, our faith is strengthened to believe in You.  Without a doubt, You have all the power and wisdom to work out our difficulties.  We invite You to put Your full power on display in this area _______________. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.