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.

Every Single Itty Bitty Detail...

Thursday greetings~

I have lost track of the number of times someone has told me, “God is too busy to deal with silly requests.”  Or, “He has better things to do, like ending wars and world hunger, than to listen to little ole me.”

The problem with that statement is that it is simply not true.  Do you think that the same God Who assures us in Luke 12:6-7 that “The very hairs on your head are numbered,” doesn’t care about every single thing about you and me?

I regularly pray for all you DEVO readers and your families, but darlings, I honestly do not need to know how many hairs are on your big heads.  Yet this is God’s way of saying He loves us so completely that NOTHING ABOUT US GOES UNNOTICED.  Therefore, there is no prayer too small, too insignificant, too anything.  The same God Who holds the universe in His hands can handle the MEGA to the MINOR.

Case in point…

I am a finally a grandmother!  Now before everyone gets excited, I will quickly tell you that it’s to a pooch named Tucker Dingo and not a human baby. (Hopefully, that will happen soon!).  Rayray and Emilio welcomed a beautiful Aussie Cattle Dog a few weeks ago, and we have all been in love ever since.  I have cooked for him, allowed him to sit at the dinner table, purchased a comfy bed so he has a warm place to nap when he visits, and well, I am smitten.

He dropped by on Sunday, and while Rayray and I were on the computer and Jorge and Emilio were watching TV, Tucker went outside to do his business.  After a few moments we all realized he had left the yard.

Jorge took off down the street in the car to look for him. Rayray ran on foot in the other direction, Emilio searched the yard, and I went into panic mode.  It’s amazing how much love one can feel for a dog.  In between yelling at Emilio to, “Activate the chip!”, I also, may He forgive me, yelled at GOD in a desperate prayer, “Find Tucker!”

Over and over again I yelled this.  My heart was racing, and I was trying hard not to lose control, and that’s when I saw Rayray coming down the block holding Tucker.  My knees almost gave out, and you better believe I thanked Jesus repeatedly and enthusiastically. 

When I was telling this story to someone on Monday they said, “God doesn’t care about a dog.”  I beg to differ.

I believe the Bible, and that is why the verse above is powerful.  None of us should ever back down from talking to the Lord about anything—anything at all—that matters to us.  He is an Answerer!  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for inviting us to be open with You about anything and everything.  Nothing is prohibited, and while we may at times struggle with whether or not You really care, the Bible assures us that You absolutely concern Yourself with every single itty bitty detail of our lives, right down to the hairs on our heads!   Glory to Your name, AMEN!