We all have a choice to make in life. When things get rough, we can either allow the enemy a foothold or we can allow the Lord to be our strength. Sometimes it seems easier to give in to the enemy because we don't have to do anything. But the victory will come when we allow the Lord to help us through the tough times. There are many blessings in fearing the Lord. Psalm 128 tells us we will be blessed as we walk with Him. When going through tough times, we may have to look hard for the blessings but they are there. Each and every morning when we wake up we are blessed with breathing. When we have to use things to help us walk, we are blessed with the way the Lord gives people knowledge on how to make such things. As we go throughout our day, we are blessed by people who love on us. But how are we able to see the blessings in the midst of the 'junk'? How can we stay positive when things don't go the way we want? Where do we find peace in the midst of the storm? Plain and simple. Jesus. He woke me with a song by 7eventh Time Down called "The One I'm Running To" and I was blessed by these words...
So much I don't understand In the middle of this circumstance But I know my life is in Your hands
Tonight I'm gonna fix my eyes On the only Hope that satisfies, my heart You are, You are
Everything that's good and right and true Jesus, I'm coming after who You are, you are The One I'm running to
Woo hoo! Running to Him is the only way to live, whether it be 'good' days or 'bad' days. He is the "...only Hope that satisfies..." He is the peace when there is "So much I don't understand..." He knows the whys of what is going on in not only my physical body but also in Doc's physical body. He will provide for our finances even with all of the unknowns ahead of us. I am blessed by this knowledge. I do not have to worry about what is ahead because He already knows and is in control.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for all of the ways You bless me. Thank You for being in control of my life. Lord, use me to be a blessing to someone today. Give me opportunity to love on someone who needs loved so badly. Open my eyes to what You desire of me. Father, I pray a healing over my husband's body. I pray You will encourage him and love on him in a mighty way today. Father, fill me to overflowing with more of You and less of me. I am Your servant and the desire of my heart is to do Your will. Thank You Jesus for being My Hope. Amen.
Somedays I feel Like I am such a disappointment to others. When I can't do what people are use to me doing, I feel like I am letting them down. When I can't do what I want to do or feel that I need to do, I feel like a disappointment. As I was praying this morning the Lord encouraged me by having me read Psalm 121. In it I found encouragement that He is my help at all times. I already knew that but this morning I sure did need the reminder. Maybe I am feeling this way because it is a Monday and Mondays always follow Sundays which are so hard. Or it could be because some have made me feel like I'm a disappointment to them. Or maybe it is the enemy trying to get to me. No matter what the reason for this feeling I must soak in more of the Lord to overcome it. I refuse to feel 'bad' in my spirit. I saw this picture the other day and was reminded of it this morning...
Yes! When I fill my cup with these things from the Lord, I will know He is with me.
He is the One who will enable me to be joyful throughout this day.
He is the One who is my Help in sorting out all of the emotions I am dealing with during this time of this flair-up.
He is the One who will enable others to help me through this difficult time.
He is the One!
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for reminding me You are the One that helps me through difficult times. Lord, You are so awesome in the way You give me things such as this picture to point me in the direction with what I need to do. You are the One I need to listen to, not others and for that I am grateful. I think of Colossians 3:23 that You gave me fourteen years ago that tells me that exact thing. I also think of Jeremiah 29:11 that reminds me that You know what my future holds and Romans 8:28 which tells me that everything will work together in my life. I may not be able to see how or know when BUT the important thing is as I fill myself with more of You and less of me it will happen. My part of the process is to fill myself up with You which will enable You to ooze out of me in a godly manner. Woo hoo! Thank You Lord! I think of all of the things in this picture I need Your peace more than anything. Keep that in the forefront of my mind throughout this day. Thank You Jesus for being My Help. Amen.
My first thought when I woke up this morning was, "It's Sunday! Woo hoo!" I have a love/hate relationships with Sundays. I love being with my church family as a corporate body of believers worshiping the Lord! I love hearing the instruments and voices as we praise and worship. I think of the lyrics..."Your presence is heaven to me"...YES! I live in His presence 24/7 on a personal level but when I gather with my church family His presence is so great at times. That makes me think of another part to that song..."Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry"...YES! Kari Jobe sings a song that says exactly what it takes to live in His presence. We must seek Him in order to find Him...
The more I seek you, The more I find you The more I find you, the more I love you
I wanna sit at your feet Drink from the cup in your hand. Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beat This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand. I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming
Oh YES! Sitting at His feet is exactly where I want to live. Oh how I pray for more people to find His peace in the midst of the storms of life. How I pray for people to get to the end of themselves and allow Him to fill them to overflowing. I shouldn't use the word 'hate' but Sundays are tough on me in 'normal' circumstances. They are very draining more on my mental/emotional body but now the physical body struggles to get through them. I don't like that. I don't like the feeling of starting the day with, "I can't do this" or even with "I don't know that I can do this." Last night when Doc asked me if I was going to survive my answer was "yes" but it was a weak "yes." I know I will get through this on His strength. I know He is with me every step of the way. I also know He will encourage me and love on me exactly how I need it.
Psalm 95
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Today, if only you would hear his voice, 8 “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,[a] as you did that day at Massah[b] in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10 For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
Dear Jesus, Thank You for today...Sunday...the day to worship with my church family! Thank You for loving on me in some mighty big ways these last couple of days. Lord, I know I have asked before but why does it seem like I am regressing instead of progressing? I need to feel Your supernatural power to come down upon me. Father, I don't want to just 'do' this day but I want to enjoy this day! The desire of my heart is to see Your glorified in this day! Fill me to overflowing...fill my cup, Lord! I know You will keep it from running dry! More of You and less of me...that is the only way for me! Thank You Jesus for being My Filler! Amen.
No one has to live their life feeling as they don't belong. The Lord created us to be together. He created us to support and encourage one another. He created us to be family. I am grateful for the family I have of believers all over that love on me in 'good' days and 'bad' days. Most of all I am grateful for the Lord who directs me to love on others. These last six weeks have been tough but the support of others have enabled me to feel so blessed. I like the words of Romans 8:11...
"If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you."
When His Spirit resides in us, we have Him to share with others. Sometimes we can share with them during joyous times. Other times it is tough times we share Him with them. But the one thing that keeps coming back to me is that there are a lot of hurting people in this world who need to feel loved. Many just need to feel like they are a part of a family or group. 5AM..."No man is an island"... was in my head... 6AM..."No man is an island"... was in my head. Finally when I got up at 7:19AM I knew the Lord had something for me to gain from this song. As I was reading about the background of it this made me stop and think.
The whole album is about going from 'islands of isolation to cathedrals of communion.' The theme of the album is that we are not meant to do this life alone. (Kevin Davis)
God did not create us to be alone. Many people will isolate themselves because they are ashamed of what they are going through or they don't think anyone will understand. But people who have the Holy Spirit indwelling in them will love on them in a way like no other if they will only allow it. God does not want anyone to feel alone. He doesn't want people to feel the pain of isolation. As one who follows what the Lord directs of me, I often ask Him how I can make a difference in someone's life. Many times His answer is to be Him to others with no specific direction. Then I have to think about what that would look like. It's me loving on people, even ones who reject that love. It's me sharing the blessings the Lord has given me with people who don't have. It's me leading them to Jesus so their life will be different. It's Jesus oozing out of me...plain and simple. That could be in person or over the internet. It could be in a store, a restaurant, at the park...anywhere I am He is with me. In the story about the song it says we are the 'cathedrals of communion' when the Holy Spirit indwells in us. Woo hoo! I like that! I like to think about being a sacred place no matter where I go. Through trouble, rain, or fire Let's reach out to something higher Ain't no life outside each other We are not alone Through trouble, rain, or fire Let's reach out to something higher Eyes open to one another We are not alone
Dear Jesus, You are so awesome in the way You encourage me! Woo hoo! I praise You for Your Holy Spirit indwelling in me that enables me to be that sacred place wherever I go. Lord, I pray for open doors with ones who I have been trying to love on that are shutting me out. I pray for You to ooze out of me in order for them to see You in me. Lord, I pray against the enemy's lies that tell them they are worthless or not worthy of being loved. Heal the wounds from their past and enable them to see You in their future. Father, thank You for the phone call I received yesterday that I had been so desiring. Even though it was brief and the conversation wasn't what I desired I praise You for the call itself that made me feel loved. Lord, more of You and less of me is the desire of my heart. Use me as a beacon of light in a dark world. Lord, I want to live out Ephesians 5:13-14...When the light shines, it exposes even the dark and shadowy things and turns them into pure reflections of light. Use me to bring light where darkness is living. Thank You for being The One To Indwell In Me. Amen.
The lyrics to "Your Love Never Fails" are so true yet sometimes so easy to forget when going through tough days. How can you draw comfort from... There may be pain in the night But joy comes in the morning ...in the midst of a cancer diagnosis, the start of dialysis, having a child in a coma, having to deal with an alcoholic spouse who just lost their job, having a family member going through medical testing for the possibility of some harsh diseases, fighting a disease in your body that seems to be winning, seeing your spouse attacked by cancer again, having to have an increase in infusions for a disease? The only way to receive 'joy' which in turn will give peace is to seek more of the Lord's strength. We must remember He loves us and is always here for us. Some may ask "Why am I going through this?" It is OK to ask as long as we are in relationship to where we can hear His answer. He may not give us answers right away but He will comfort and encouragement us through each and every day. The Lord woke me up throughout the night to pray for some people who are hurting so deeply. I feel helpless yet I know when I am obedient in praying He will strengthen not only them but also myself. I was sharing with one last night that in order to have His joy we must practice thinking of... Jesus first Others second Yourself last He is the key to having joy. When we have Him in our heart and live a life of obedience in surrender to Him, we will experience His joy no matter what happens in life. We also will have hope in the promise that His love is always with us. We must remember... Hang On Pain Ends
As I was thinking about Psalm 30 I was reminded the Lord heals in different ways. Sometimes He heals miraculously. Sometimes He heals through doctors and medicine. Sometimes He heals through death.
When healing comes through death and they are a believer, we should be joyful in knowing they are no longer dealing with the suffering on this earth. Instead they have been given a new body that will never have disease. Yes, it is hard to lose someone but when we think about it we are being selfish in wanting them to stay here in the pain they are in. I know a lot of people would disagree with me with this way of thinking but death on this earth is birth in heaven. That is exciting! (Of course, the one who dies must be in relationship with the Lord in order to have new birth.) There may be pain in the night But joy comes in the morning These words take on a whole new meaning when we stop and think about them. The night could be the darkness of this world. The morning could be a physical healing on this earth or a new body in heaven. No matter what, God heals. Dear Jesus, Thank You for giving me opportunities to pray throughout the night for so many hurting people who are going through some very tough days. Lord, draw them closer to You. Father, I pray for them to have Your joy and Your peace. I know that is hard for some to understand but as I was talking with one last night she gets it and for that I am grateful. Lord, as I was praying in the night You reminded me to pray for myself. I don't do that very often because I feel guilty praying for something as trivial as MS when people are dying from cancer. Yet You reminded me that my MS is why I am where I am today. My testimony is only complete because of the MS. Thank You Jesus! Lord, I come before You asking You for strength in my physical body, my emotional body, my mental body and more of You in my spiritual body. Lord, You know the desires of my heart are to be You to others. As I go to therapy this morning I pray for You to ooze out of me. May people see You in me in such a mighty way. Lord, I need a healing in my emotional body so very badly. It's kind of funny but I can handle the physical things so much better than the hurt I am dealing with. Maybe that's the problem....I am not dealing with it in the right manner. Father, open my eyes to how I can deal with it better. Thank You Jesus for being My Healer. Amen.
This morning the Lord woke me up to a song Toby Mac sings called "Me Without You" and told me to read Psalm 118. As I was reading I remembered a statement Jim said in Bible study last night. "Our past helps us in our future." The things we go through in our past will enable us to get through in the days ahead. We can learn from them. We also will know God was with us then and He will be with us now. Psalm 118 starts with telling us: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. We could stop right there and feel blessed. But as we continue reading in verses five through fourteen we find we need to trust the Lord in every circumstance we go through. He will enable us to be victors over anything that comes our way when we are living in His will. In verses fifteen and sixteen it reads, Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 'The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!' These verses tell me to praise Him through each and victory we have. In verse twenty-two is talks about a 'stone the builders rejected.' I remember as a teen/young adult singing a song about Jesus being a cornerstone the builders rejected. But as I was reading this my thoughts went another direction. What if the tough times in life are ones we 'reject' when they really are what we need to embrace because they are important to our future? That sounds a little strange yet I am wondering if we embrace the tough times and see God in them will it enable us to get through them easier? I think of the first few verses in James 1 where we are told to be joyful WHEN we go through trials. It doesn't say IF but WHEN. Tough times are going to be a part of life no matter what. The key is how we get through them. When we are believers, we have hope in the Lord and know He is with us in the 'good' and the 'bad'. I like the words of Matthew Henry about this passage...
Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.
Once again I go back to what Jim said last night, "Our past helps us in our future." As I apply that to my current MS flair-up, I've been here before. Twenty-one years ago was the first time I found myself not able to function normally. Since then there have been many times where I have lost the function in my arms, legs or eyes. But I am still here. God has always been with me...in the 'good' and in the 'bad' times. I praise His Holy Name for the comfort and encouragement He gives to me. I can truly say...
You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Dear Jesus, Thank You for being with me in my past, in my present and in my future. Thank You for enabling me to be joyful in both the 'good' and the 'bad' times in life. I think of the song from yesterday, "Your Presence Is Heaven" and am blessed in knowing you are the "holder of my future days to come." When tomorrow comes, You will be the One to enable me to go from the walker to the cane. In the days ahead, You will be the One to direct my steps..literally and figuratively. I honestly can sing the words to "Me Without You" and truly mean I "don't know where I'd be without You..." Lord, open eyes to those who don't know You. Father, I pray for more of You and less of me so people will see You in me. I don't know that I will leave the house today but whether I do or not I pray for opportunities to share You with others. Use me...be glorified through me...speak through me in some mighty ways. Thank You Jesus for being My Past, Present & Future. Amen.
The Lord woke me up several times during the night with the words to "Your Presence Is Heaven" going through my mind...
Who is like You Lord in all the earth? - Psalm 89:8 Matchless love and beauty, endless worth - John 15:13 Nothing in this world can satisfy - Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry - John 7:37-38
Your presence is heaven to me - Hebrews 10:19-23 Your presence is heaven to me
Treasure of my heart and of my soul - Matthew 6:19-21 In my weakness you are merciful - Psalm 31:9 Redeemer of my past and present wrongs - Titus 2:13-15 Holder of my future days to come - Jeremiah 29:11
Your presence is heaven to me - Hebrews 10:19-23 Your presence is heaven to me
All my days on earth I will await - Romans 8:18-19; 23 The moment that I see You face to face - 1 Peter 4:13 Nothing in this world can satisfy - Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry - John 7:37-38
Woo hoo! I love living in His presence here on this earth while I wait to be in His presence for eternity in heaven. There is no better place to be than in the Lord's presence. Living with him a 24/7 type of life gives such peace. There are no worries about the little things of life when He directs your every move. There are no doubts on whether what you do is right or wrong when He is the One to direct your steps. There is no stress in making decisions when He is the One to make them.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the reminders of this song. Your presence is where I bask. It is in Your presence that I am renewed each and every day. Your presence is such a blessing to me. Thank You Jesus for the strength to be with my friends yesterday during a very tough day for them. I pray for Your strength to be their strength throughout the days ahead. Father, I also praise Your holy name for the one who received the news of being cancer free! Woo hoo! Lord, continue to be with my dear friend who is suffering so greatly. Father, as I was talking with one yesterday about her...we want to see a miraculous healing on this earth for her. May Your Holy Spirit come down upon her right now, wherever she is and heal her from all that is not of You in her. I believe You can do that...I believe You will do that! Thank You Jesus for being My Presence. Amen.
I woke up this morning singing a song Matt Maher does called "Because He Lives" and immediately started praying for three people who are going through some tough days. I pray they will know...
BECAUSE HE LIVES I CAN FACE TOMORROW BECAUSE HE LIVES EVERY FEAR IS GONE I KNOW HE HOLDS MY LIFE MY FUTURE IN HIS HANDS
The diseases on this earth will no longer be when we are in heaven. But until it is our time to go to be with Him we must remember that He is our strength as Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. He is the One who enables us to overcome fear as II Timothy 1:7 says, God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but He gave us a spirit of power, love and self-control. He is the One to give us exactly what we need to fight the diseases on this earth. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that our strength will be renewed when we wait on Him. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for these words of encouragement. Oh Lord, give these three peace. Give them what they need to lean upon Your strength in this tough day. I pray for strength for the outcome of doctor appointments and a surgery today. I pray for strength for the one battling for her life. Lord, I know whatever happens will be Your will. I pray for You to be glorified in all three of these circumstances. Thank You for using me to be a vessel of light in this dark world full of sin and disease. Thank You for the reminder of Philippians 4:6-7 this morning, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Thank You for being My Future. Amen.
The Lord took me to Ecclesiastes 3 this morning. This is a common scripture heard at funerals. It is also common to hear it quoted when someone is going through a tough time. No matter what the circumstance there is one thing for sure. God is the One who is with us in 'good' or 'bad' times. He is the One who will sustain us. He is the One who will enable us to endure whatever is put before us. Woo hoo! Verse one of this passage says, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. "...a season..." No matter what the season He has us in we must embrace it and seek the lesson He desires for us to gain from it. According to John Wesley a season is described as:
A season — A certain time appointed by God for its being and continuance, which no human wit or providence can alter. And by virtue of this appointment of God, all vicissitudes which happen in the world, whether comforts or calamities, come to pass. Which is here added to prove the principal proposition, That all things below are vain, and happiness is not to be found in them, because of their great uncertainty, and mutability, and transitoriness, and because they are so much out of the reach and power of men, and wholly in the disposal of God.
Often times we hear the saying, "This too shall pass" which is very true. But thankfully the lesson we learn from whatever we are going through does not pass but instead is embedded into us. I like how Wesley points out that everything that happens, whether 'good' or 'bad' will pass. That means the Lord will use 'good' things to teach us lessons too, not just 'bad' things.
This season I am in with this MS flair-up is not one I would have chose myself. But yet I have to remember the Lord is with me and there is a lesson to be learned through it. I can't allow myself to wonder about the 'what-ifs' of the days ahead but must trust Him and know it will pass. I was thinking the other day about how life has changed so drastically and we have adjusted somewhat. If this is the new normal, I know the Lord will enable us to adjust to it. As I read this passage today, I thought about how I could take it two ways. One would be that this time of the flair-up will pass. Or it could be that this is my new season to adjust to. My initial thought is I hope it is something that will pass. But then the Lord checked me and said, "What if this is My will? Will you embrace it?" Oh my! I will embrace it if it will glorify Him. I know He is my strength. He is the One to enable me to do whatever I need to do. He is the One I trust. I am so grateful I can sing the words to "All You Ever Wanted" and mean them...
No more chains, I've been set free Oh No more fighting battles You've won for me Oh Now in Christ, I stand complete Oh
All You've ever wanted, All You've ever wanted All You've ever wanted was my heart (All You've ever wanted was my heart) Freedom's arms are open, My chains have all been broken Relentless love has called me from the start And all You wanted was my heart
Dear Jesus,
I thank You for this passage today. I praise Your Holy Name for the way You speak and I hear You. Lord, whatever is Your will is what I want. No matter what, I want You to be glorified! Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see You in me. Permeate in me so You will ooze out of me... Thank You for being My Will. Amen.
the strength for being able to go to our family picnic yesterday
getting to see Paul, Lizzy and Bella yesterday and seeing the look on her face when she saw her locket
my legs moving better
Jack who the first thing when he came into the door today at church hugged me because he remembered how hard Father's Day is without my Daddy
friends who pray for me
a hour long nap this afternoon
food that was given to us to bless others with
the empowering sermon Doc preached this morning in the middle of having a headache and not feeling well
the way the Lord changed my Sunday School lesson and changed Doc's sermon and both lined up with one another
There are just so many things to be grateful for even in the midst of the chaos of life. I am so grateful for not only hearing the Lord's voice but most of all desiring to be obedient to Him. There are some days where I wish the Lord would return so I didn't have to deal with the chaos of life on this earth. But then I am reminded there are still so many that need Him.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for blessing me in abundance! Thank You for loving me in some mighty big ways! Lord, I pray for my dear sister in Christ who is struggling with her physical health. When she told me that as I rubbed her shoulders and prayed against the pain in them she felt tingling, I wanted to run and shout "Praise The Lord." Doc told us today that we are empowered by the Supernatural and we are to ask for specifics. Lord, just as I prayed this morning...Lord, heal her in a mighty way! Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see You in me. Use me as a vessel of healing. I loved the prayer Doc shared that Martin Luther prayed. Woo hoo! Yes! That's what I desire...supernatural answers to prayer. Thank You Jesus for being My Supernatural! Amen!
The Lord woke me up this morning to a song Toby Mac sings called "Me Without You" but I couldn't remember all of the lyrics so I had to look it up. A part I couldn't remember goes...
You rescued me You are mine, I am Yours You rescued me And I am Yours forever You saved me, remade me
Amen! Yes, He saved me and Yes, He remade me! It is so amazing to think about how He gives us second chances! Or sometimes it takes third, fourth, etc. before we finally realize He is what we need in life. Woo hoo! I am so grateful! If I would not have finally came to my senses I would be...
That I'd be packin' my bags when I need to stay I'd be chasin' every breeze that blows my way I'd be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away So true That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou Don't know where I'd be without You
The Lord created us to spend eternity with Him. He created us to be in relationship with Him daily. The desire of His heart is for us to be totally surrendered to Him. In John 6 we read the stories of Jesus performing miracles with the feeding of the 5000 and then walking on water. One thing that happens in this chapter is Jesus explaining about being the Bread of Life. He said... 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Jesus was and is the Bread of Life. Things, people, job, money, hobbies...all of these are things we look to fulfill us yet nothing fulfills us like the Lord. When we were created to be eternal beings, we were created with an eternal purpose. He is the Only One to fill our needs. When we follow Him, we have hope, peace, a purpose and a meaning for our lives. Without Him, we have none of those. Instead we are empty and hungry. Dear Jesus, Thank You for this song this morning that reminds me of where I've been and where I am now. Thank You for fulfilling me. Thank You for loving me enough to give me second chances. Thank You for giving me exactly what I need to not only get through life but most importantly to depend upon Your strength to be a blessing to You and to others. Father, You know what is ahead of me today. You know who I will be in contract with. I pray for more of You and less of me throughout this day. Fill me to overflowing so others will see You in me. Lord, I pray for Doc today for strength. I pray You will fill him to overflowing with Yourself too. Bless our day...I don't want to just get through this day but instead the desire of my heart is to enjoy my family and friends. Thank You for being My Bread of Life. Amen.
This picture was taken when we were in Israel during our visit of The Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. I remember that day so well. It was beautiful out with coolness to the air and the sun shining. This was one of the places I felt so much peace. I was heartbroken to find out yesterday someone had torched this beautiful place. In thinking of the history of this church, it is believed to be on the site where Jesus fed the 5000. He blessed people in a mighty way that day because He loves people so much. As I was thinking about Him this morning, I wondered how in the world could Jesus love people who did this?
Or how does He love people who go into a church and kill people? My heart breaks for the people in South Carolina with the killing of the nine during a church service. That young man had to have great hate in his heart to do such a thing. Once again, how can God love him? He does. It's like the saying, "God loves the sinner but not the sin." He loves each and every one of us. Taking it one step further, how can we say we love the people who torched the church in Israel or the young man who killed the nine in South Carolina? Jesus commands us to not only love Him in the Great Commandment but He follows itwith 'Love your neighbor as yourself' in Matthew 22:39. The young men who torched the church and the young man who committed the murders in the South Carolina need the Lord. They need to know His love. They need to have people who will say or do something to make a difference in their lives. This morning the Lord woke me up with, "Read Psalm 10" so I did. This particular Psalm is one that goes along with the thinking of why would the Lord allow things of such destruction to happen. Where was He when these tragedies were happening? Why didn't He do something to stop them? It doesn't do any good to verbally bash these people. It doesn't do any good to wish they would go to hell. Instead we need to pray for the Lord to put someone before them who will open their eyes to Him. Satan is the one in control of their lives, not God. Because of that we cannot understand how they could do as they did. Matthew Henry writes about such people, "Men think it below them to be religious. They could not break all the laws of justice and goodness toward man, if they had not first shaken off all sense of religion." It is so sad that people live like this. Thinking about how much they need to know the love of Christ breaks my heart. I am reminded of a song Casting Crowns sings called, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" this morning. We, as believers, need to do more in getting people to come to know the love of Christ.
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers Let our hearts be led by mercy Help us reach with open hearts and open doors Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours It isn't just these 'big' tragedies that breaks the Lord's heart. The ones who have shook their fist at Him and continue to sin each and every day breaks His heart. He is broken over the people who hurt people just because they are hurting. He is heart broken over people being lonely because their family and friends are too busy for them. He is heart broken over people going hungry because of their addiction. He is heart broken over children not knowing their biological parents. He is heart broken, plain and simple. Why doesn't He make life easier? Because we need to get to the end of ourselves and allow Him to be our God. The ultimate way for His heart to no longer be broken is when He comes back for us to spend eternity in heaven. Matthew Henry writes... He will rescue the believer from every temptation, and break the arm of every wicked oppressor, and bruise Satan under our feet shortly. But in heaven alone will all sin and temptation be shut out, though in this life the believer has a foretaste of deliverance. The key to this is that it will be the believer who spends eternity with Him. A believer. We must believe in Him in order to be in relationship with Him. That relationship is not just for our time on this earth but it is also for eternity. Praise His Holy Name! Dear Jesus, I am so grateful for Your love, mercy and grace. I love You so much, Lord. I praise Your Holy Name for the way You are my God. Lord, I pray for these young men who have done such awful things these last few days. I can't even begin to imagine the hatred they must have in their hearts. Lord, I pray someone will go before them to make a difference in their lives before it is too late. I pray they will find You. Lord, enable us to be more aware of people around us who suffer with hatred for You. Give us Your words and point us in the right direction to make a difference in their lives. Father, I pray for those hurting. I pray for those who need to know You are there for them. Lord, enable me to make a difference in ones I come in contract with. Fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see You in me. Thank You for this day that is ahead. I pray for an abundance of strength in not only my physical body but also in my mental and emotional body. Lord, these days are so tough. I don't want to just get through them but the desire of my heart is for You to fill me with joy and to oozze out of me. Thank You Jesus for being My Hope. Amen.
