Have you ever looked at your life and wondered about your journey? Has it been relatively easy, or have there been bumps or potholes through which you’ve had to travel, or possibly a Mt. Everest that you’ve had to climb? I imagine for all of us, our journey has thrown us curveballs and/ or presented us with alternating hills, mountains, or valleys.
I love the following passage, entitled Limitations by Joseph Parker: “A child might say to a geographer. ‘You talk about the earth being round! Look on this great crag: look on that deep dell; look on yonder great mountain, and the valley at its feet, and yet you talk about the earth being round.’ The geographer would have an instant answer for the child. His view is comprehensive; he does not look at the surface of the world in mere detail; he does not deal with inches, and feet, and yards; he sees a larger world than the child has had time to grasp. He explains what he means by the expression ‘The earth is a globe,’ and justifies his strange statement. And so it is with God’s wonderful dealing toward us; there are great rocks and barren deserts, deep, dank, dark pits, and defiles, and glens, and dells, rugged places that we cannot smooth over at all, and yet when He comes to say to us at the end of the journey, ‘Now look back; there is the way that I have brought you,’ we shall be enabled to say, ‘Thou has gone before us and made our way straight.’ 1 As humans, we are not given the luxury of knowing what paths our lives will follow. The question is, will we be discontented on our journey, or will we consider it divinely purposed? Exodus 16:1-3 states, “Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. ‘If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,’ they moaned. ‘There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.’” Note, this complaining began only a month and a half after God led the Israelites out from their slavery in Egypt. Also note that they were looking to humans—Moses and Aaron—to provide for their needs, not God--the all-powerful God who led them miraculously across the opened Red Sea, rescuing them from the Egyptians pursing them! The Israelites only saw what appeared to be directly in front of them—a lack of food, not knowing that the path God had before them would be filled with manna in the morning and quail in the evening. One would think this would have provided the Israelites proof again it was God who was providing for them and that He would continue to provide for their every need! However, they are tested and fail again when in Exodus 17:1-2, it appears they have no water. “At the Lord’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. ‘Give us water to drink!’ they demanded. ‘Quiet!” Moses replied. ‘Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?’" Over and over throughout the Bible, we see discontent among the Israelites on their journey through life because they were unable to sustain complete trust in the LORD at all times; all they could see were the obstacles that lay before them. We can be like the Israelites—stubborn, hard-hearted, not fully trusting in God when circumstances appear to be insurmountable; or, we can view our lives as being divinely directed by our Good Shepherd, understanding that “…when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2 Let us believe the prophets in the Bible, men who have gone before us, giving their lives fully unto the Lord. God gave this promise to Isaiah to be delivered to the Israelites, and when we believe in Christ as our Savior, we are grafted into that family—adopted— and the same promise holds true for us: “I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be My sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare. They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in His mercy will lead them; He will lead them beside cool waters. And I will make my mountains into level paths for them. The highways will be raised above the valleys. See, My people will return from far away, from lands to the north and west, and from as far south as Egypt.” Isaiah 49:9-12 What a promise for our future! Each of us has a different road to travel. While journeying, let us always remember that our Lord is powerful enough to lead us through any and all circumstances and that, in due time, He will make our mountains into level paths. Let us always trust that God's love for us surpasses all understanding and that as He guides us on our journey, He knows the end picture. Though our path may seem impossible at times, God has only our welfare and the welfare of those whose lives we touch in mind: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 Through the good times and bad, through every trial and pothole, through every curveball that life throws at us, let us trust our Maker who will lead us from darkness into His eternal light of life. 1. Leaves of Gold, revised 1948 by Donald G. Remley, Coslett Publishing Company, p.72. VERSES: Exodus 16:9-11 “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Announce this to the entire community of Israel: Present yourselves before the Lord, for He has heard your complaining.’ And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud. Then the Lord said to Moses ‘I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them: In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” Romans 15:13 “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Proverbs 19:21 “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 3:5-6 “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” PRAYER: Lord, I admit I can be stubborn, but please use that stubbornness as a force that will never deny You, but always as one that will trust in You and the design You have for my life. Help me always rely on the fact that Your love for me far surpasses anything I can imagine, and help me understand that whatever You allow to take place in my life, whether good or what I deem to be bad, difficult, or impossible, will be used in the end for good and for Your glory. I once more fully submit myself to Your will, Father God, whatever that may be. May You use my hands, feet, and heart for Your honor and glorification. Amen. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! 1 Chronicles 16:25-29 “Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling. O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.”
We often sing of and pray about glorifying God, but have you ever given thought to what that really means? For instance, does glorifying God mean He is prideful or egotistical, desiring our praise to fulfill Himself? After all, God said, ““I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another…” Isaiah 42:8 Then there are some who may wonder why we should glorify God when there is so much ugliness in the world, with man mistreating man. Unfortunately, the people who say these things misunderstand who God is, and they fail to see His value. No, God is not prideful nor egotistical! Just look to Jesus! If we know Him, we know His Father: “If you had really known Me, You would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!” John 14:7 Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, spat upon, rejected, betrayed, and crucified, all during which times He never exhibited pride or ego, e.g. “I’m God; you’re not!” Rather, Jesus always exhibited true humbleness: “He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 Jesus became a servant for our sake, dying in our place for our sins so we could have the opportunity to choose eternal life with Him. So, what does it mean to glorify God? “To glorify God is not to bestow glory on God or add to His glory, but to recognize and acknowledge His glory. The basic meaning of the word glory is ‘heavy in weight.’ It is the ‘weighty importance and shining majesty that accompany God’s presence.’ The verb glorify means ‘to give weight to’ or ‘to honor.’ ” Thus, to glorify God is to recognize God for who He really is and to respond appropriately.” 1 “To ‘glorify’ God means to give glory to Him. The word glory as related to God in the Old Testament bears with it the idea of greatness of splendor. In the New Testament, the word translated ‘glory’ means ‘dignity, honor, praise and worship.’ Putting the two together, we find that glorifying God means to acknowledge His greatness and give Him honor by praising and worshiping Him, primarily because He, and He alone, deserves to be praised, honored and worshiped. God's glory is the essence of His nature, and we give glory to Him by recognizing that essence.” 2 Glory—the essence of God’s nature—now we understand! But how do we ordinary people go about giving glory to God? Based on what glorifying God means, I’d like for us to take a few moments to look at just a few everyday practices that bring glory to God. OBEDIENCE: 1 Samuel 15:22 states, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering.” Because we love God, we should have a deep-seated desire to please Him through our submission and obedience to His commandments. Let us ask ourselves each day, “What is it that the Lord is asking of me today, and how can I be submissive and obedient to Him?” Our submission and obedience, especially in the face of opposition and/or our own fleshly-driven desires, show honor and respect to the One who created us—who molded our very beings. Our obedience brings glory to God. RELATING GOD’S WORKS: Psalm 78:4 “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.” The Israelites continually passed the truths of God’s miraculous works to their children. They wanted them to understand, recognize, and give glory to God for the miracles He provided, such as saving them from the Egyptians when they passed through the Red Sea, then caring for them by providing food and water and not letting their clothes wear out during their forty years of wandering in the desert. The Jews wanted all future generations to glorify the One and Only God who had revealed Himself to Abraham and Moses. Likewise, we glorify God when we relate to our children and others the great things God has done in our lives. I tell how God led me to Terry, my husband, when my life was so messed up. It was he who eventually led me to the Lord, and the ways Terry has blessed me over the years are too many to recount! I tell my children and others how God’s miraculous hand saved my son’s life when at three weeks of age, he stopped breathing. God prompted Terry to look at our boy, notice that he was purple, and give him artificial respiration. Then there was the head-on collision that this same son had when seventeen (not his fault), and even the policemen there said they had never seen such a horrible accident--that it was a miracle because there was not only no fatality, but no injury. Our truck was totaled! We, indeed, counted this as miracluous. I never fail to relate how God kept His hand on our four-year old daughter who developed infantile thrombocytopenia, with her red blood count dropping to 4,000, meaning she could easily hemmorhage to death. "Don't let her run or fall," were my instructions. Not easy at that age! There was also her bicycle accident, when, as she told us, she "fell asleep" while riding. She completely tore up the right side of her face, with one eye swollen shut, but the hand of God was upon her. God saw to it that this accident happened after recovering from the auto-immune disease, and she even had no large, permanent scarring! I love to relate those simple occurrences in my life that really aren't simple at all, for I can look back and clearly see God at work! For instance, there’s the time I forgot my keys, and in going in search of them, I discovered I’d left my curling iron on. NOT GOOD! I’ve often said that I keep God very busy as He keeps me on the right track! WORKING WITH OTHERS: Galatians 5:22 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” The moment we accept Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. His fruit is demonstrated when we study God’s Word, internalize it, and act upon it. Read about the changes that God desires in our lives that would exemplify God’s Spirit at work within. Ephesians 4:20-31: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as his own,] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” God is so great—so good--you can see that He always desires our welfare--our becoming more Christ-like--and when we stop acting according to the lusts of our flesh, when we die to self and put others’ needs before our own, we glorify and honor Him. Glorifying God, “…extolling His attributes—His holiness, faithfulness, mercy, grace, love, majesty, sovereignty, power, and omniscience, to name a few—rehearsing them over and over in our minds and telling others about the singular nature of the salvation only He offers…” 3 should become our lives’ goal. 1. https://explorethebible.lifeway.com/blog/adults/10- ways-to-glorify-god-session-2-1-corinthians-612-20 2. https://www.gotquestions.org/glorify-God.html 3. https://www.gotquestions.org/glorify-God.html VERSES: Psalm 118:28 “You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, and I will exalt You.” Psalm 86:12 “I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart and will glorify Your name forever.” Psalm 19:1 “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” Isaiah 6:3 “They (the seraphim) were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Matthew 16:24-26 “ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” PRAYER: Father God, help me daily to always place you first and foremost, with my eyes set upon glorifying You in all my ways. Let my words and actions demonstrate the fruit of Your Spirit, acting in kindness and compassion to all whose lives you place in my path so that You may be glorified. May my life reflect Your kindness, goodness, and care through all circumstances, again, so that You may be glorified. To You be all honor and glory forever! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! 13 “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life as recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!”
What beautiful verses—beautiful verses about beautiful you! They tell you that YOU are special, unique—one of a kind! The forming of your body, mind, soul, and spirit was not an accident—you were planned, then created to be the one and only you--designed to have meaning and purpose--to bring honor and glory to the God who made you. I love to picture a kindly grandmother, peacefully rocking in her chair, carefully knitting sweaters for each of her grandchildren, following a pattern downloaded from the internet. The result may be stunning, but it is nothing compared to the designs of our creator! Our knitter, God Almighty, is no ordinary craftsman. For each of His projects, He creates an individual, unique pattern using stitches far beyond those we might consider complex—the beautiful coral eyelet lace, moss diamonds, or mountain peaks. Think of God's stitches as the cells of our bodies, with each cell containing membrane, controlling what goes in and out of the cell; nucleus, containing most of the cell’s DNA; and cytoplasm, the semi-gel like fluid that contains organelles (think little organs ) such as mitochondria and carrying out chemical reactions and functions for cell expansion, growth and replication.1,2 This is just the smallest of beginnings of information about the cell and God’s knitting stitches! Want to be amazed? Look into all that goes into the formation of an eye! You’ll find this mind boggling! It is easy now to say, “Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (v. 14) Wonderful! Complex! Marvelous! All these adjectives should convey your joy at how God has created you. Indeed—you are a wonder! Only a loving and caring God who is omniscient and omnipotent could accomplish such! Thus God designed you, then planted you in your mother's womb: “You watched me as I as being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born.” (vv. 15-16) How encouraging it is to know that from the time you were just an embryo, God knew His plans for you; He recorded each day of your life in His book and laid out every moment before a single day passed. If you have ever doubted that you are God’s masterpiece, read and reread Psalm 139. He created your very being—everything you are—then He pursued and continues to pursue you each moment of your life, always being your ever guiding light: “If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.” God never forgets you for a moment—His thoughts for you are abounding: “How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!” Imagine every thought God has for you being precious and designed for your eternal welfare! May Psalm 139 remind you that each day you should shout out praises to God, your Creator, for fulfilling the purposes He has planned for your life when He created your body, mind, soul, and spirit. While it is true that your body will fail as you grow older due to living in a fallen world and that one day it will perish, it is also true that having Christ as your Savior enables your never perishing, immortal soul and spirit to grow better—to become more righteous and more like Christ your Savior. Indeed, you are God’s masterpiece; let your every cell sing praise to His glory and His perfect design! 1. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/cell 2. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Mitochondria VERSES: Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Job 33:4 “For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Isaiah 64:8 “And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” PRAYER: Father God, thank You for creating me so uniquely and wonderfully well. I must admit that I often don’t feel unique or wonderfully well, for as I age, I note how my body fails, and again at times I wonder if I’m serving You as best I can to glorify You; but when I turn my heart to You and read Your Word, I know that the doubts I have about myself do not come from You, but from the enemy. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may rejoice in who You are and who You made me to be. And, Father, please bless those who read this prayer and let them know how very special they are to You—that when they seek You and Your will for their lives, they are fulfilling the purpose for which You made them. You, God, are our Almighty King and Savior, and You created us as masterpieces. May we praise Your Name forever! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! 2 “You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is to wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.” Psalm 139:2-6
Are you a cup that is half-full or a cup that is half-empty kind of person? If you are a half-empty cup, you might read verses 2 through 4 of Psalm 139 and be fearful. “Oh my goodness, God knows what I’m doing every second of my life as well as every thought and action! I am saved, and yet thoughts sometimes pop into my mind that even I don’t like, much less God! I wish He didn’t know those things! And then there are my words; some are said in anger or thoughtlessness, and they’ve hurt others. I’ve asked God for forgiveness, but Satan continually points his finger at me saying, ‘Shame on you!’ and guilt raises its ugly face. The half empty cup gets even emptier. Being half-empty is one way of looking at things, but I prefer the half-full cup version! Because God knows everything about us, He knows what we need at all times—the things that we need both to discipline us and those to encourage us—things that will grow us to become more like His Son, Jesus. When we do mess up and sin, God’s correction helps us recognize that; then, when we repent and confess our sin, God promises to forgive, to make us whiter than snow, and tells us we are no longer to feel shame or guilt because Jesus has paid the full price for all sin. On the other hand, when we need encouragement, when we feel low, we may find God brings peace to our hearts when we spend time studying and meditating on His Word or when we spend time glorifying Him through the splendor of His creation. Then there are those times when He’ll have a friend write or phone with an encouraging word; or when He brings to our doorsteps one who says not much, but listens well; or when others arrive who encourage us by relating how we've touched their lives. How wonderful to know God understands us even better than we understand ourselves, so He knows our every need. Thus when we read in verse 5 that God goes before and after us, we know He has our welfare and eternal lives in mind. He is therefore with us in the best of times, cheering us on and rejoicing with us; and in the worst of times, grieving when and if harm is done. The important thing to remember is that God is THERE—with us—at all times! Capping off all this wonderful information is v. 6, “You place Your hand of blessing on my head.” Blessing—on our heads! YES! We are God’s beloved! “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.” No truer words ever have been said! May you and I always be thankful that God knows everything about us; in fact, we should rejoice in this fact! Who could we trust more to love us unconditionally or direct our paths more truly than our triune God? Psalm 139 tells us how great the Father’s love is for us—total, complete, agape love—unconditional and ever present. Let us rejoice in our God who loves us beyond what any words can describe! VERSES: Psalm 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Isaiah1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be whiter than snow.” Romans 8:1 “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” I John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to Him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” PRAYER: Father God, thank You that You do know everything about me. Even though Satan would use the knowledge to cause me to feel guilt or shame, You have shown me that because of my belief in Jesus and His death for me on the cross, I am not to feel condemnation. So when Satan would fire arrows at me, let me physically point to the palms of my hands, indicating Jesus’ wounds and that I’ve been justified through His obedience when He died on the cross in my place. Thank You, also, Father, for being with me always and everywhere! I need never feel alone or hopeless, for You are everything a Father should be—loving, compassionate, full of mercy and grace; You are the supplier of all my needs and my ever-present King and friend. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Psalm 139:1-4 “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.”
God—knowing everything about us—from sitting to standing; from our every thought; and from our every action—God knows all these things! This can be a scary thought sometimes, right—having an all knowing, all-powerful God who sees all? Yet the state of our hearts is vital to our relationship to the Lord, for “a good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45 You have most likely heard the expression, “This is the heart of the matter.” Well, in Christianity, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart! God’s Word makes this very clear: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 God knows the motives behind our actions, and one day when our works are run through fire, we will be receive rewards based upon whether or not our actions were based on pure motives. Therefore, God directs us in the following verses: “Guard you heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 and “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” Proverbs: 27:19 When we look at the fact that everything we do in life flows from our hearts and that how we live projects what is in our hearts, we can understand why it is so important to regularly examine them. Are the motives behind our actions pure? Is there sin I haven’t faced or renounced in my life? “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.” Luke 15:21 The prodigal son examined his heart, repented of his sinful ways, and returned home. “I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow Your laws.” Psalm 119:59 It is believed King David used these words to teach Solomon his son, Solomon. A great daily habit, then, would be to purify our hearts by confessing sin, asking God for His forgiveness, and examining the motives behind our actions so that we can make certain they are meant to glorify God and not ourselves in the eyes of others. Let us also ask ourselves how obedient we are being to God’s laws, not because of the commands themselves, but because of our all-consuming love for our Savior God. Then let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us until we overflow with the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—so that through us, others can see Jesus' hands, feet, and heart in action. VERSES: Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Job 13:23 “Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” PRAYER: Father God, when I stop to pray and examine my heart, let me listen carefully for your voice. It is often all too easy to ignore or disregard the sin in me, make excuses for it, or blame someone else. This is not Your way! You long for us to be pure in heart! So, Father, If there is a log in my eye, I ask You to expose it, whether that knowledge hurts or not. “How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” Matthew 7:4-5 Always help me confess every sin You reveal to me and to examine the motives behind my words and actions. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I may grow in Jesus’ way. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! 1 John 3:1a “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!
As Father’s Day approaches, I am drawn to memories of my earthly father. To me, as I grew up, he was a hero. He was there every time I needed him, protecting me from my mother during my teenage years when she was either cold, not speaking to me for days or weeks at a time, or raging, perhaps due to hormones. “I think this would be a great time to go golfing,” he would say, and off we would head for the links. Then there was the time I called him late at night telling him I thought I had tonsillitis, and Dad drove from Portland, Oregon, to Corvallis where I was in college, bringing me medication. It was late when he left Portland and much later when he returned home…approximately 1:30 AM, proof indeed, that though not spiritually nourished by my father, I always felt love and commitment from him. Then came the day, when I was 65 years old, a cousin whom I had not seen for years stopped in for a visit—with a purpose in mind. She told me that for much of her life she had needed to seek out counseling, and that to help with closure, her therapist recommended telling me how my father had sexually abused her in her youth; she then described in some detail what had taken place. I was devastated. I went for long walks with my husband, tears streaming down my face. Who was my father, anyway? I thought I had known my him, but I hadn’t. I’m certain that some of you reading this devotional had loving, Christian fathers who helped you walk through life and nurtured you in your faith; but there are others, I am equally certain, who not only treated you unfairly or harshly, but even abused you in one way or another. This was and is not the intent of your true Father God, who always has had your welfare in mind. While human fathers come in all sizes, shapes, mentalities, goodness, or propensity for evil, you can rely on the fact that your true Father God is always good and never changing; He is the very definition and essence of love. While in our humanness we cannot understand God’s ways, we must understand that although we live in a fallen world with all its consequences, we can trust that God’s justice one day will prevail. From the moment Eve succumbed to the temptation of Satan, God’s plan of salvation was put into action, and God promised a Redeemer from Eve’s seed: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15 As we read the Bible, we can see that each book points to our Savior, Jesus, because from the beginning God’s desire was for life and the redemption of every man possible. We will see God’s plan of salvation coming to fruition when one day it plays out as foretold in the book of Revelation. Oh, glorious day! If you have had a father who has abused you in any way, Satan will attempt to turn you from your true Father God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, telling you that He is just like your earthly father…that He will punish you for every sin you’ve ever committed and deny you all that is good. He would make you feel shame and/or guilt. What great lies! Your true Father, the One who created you, treasures you so very much that He sent His only Son to die for you and will protect you eternally if you call upon the name of Jesus as your Savior. When you choose Jesus as your Savior, you become God’s child, and He gives you great promises as your Father: “And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 “The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13 And when you ask your Father’s forgiveness, He readily forgives: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” 1 John 1:9 Your God is not a punisher; He is your warrior, your eternal protector, and your life-giver. He sees you not as guilty, but as redeemed; He sees you through Jesus, whose blood has purified you, cleansing you from all sin. To God, you are as fresh and pure as newly fallen snow. When Father’s Day arrives, be thankful if you’ve had a loving earthly father, and if you’ve not, forgive by placing into God’s hands the father who has harmed you; then remember to thank and praise your true Father for all His glorious works and for what He is accomplishing through your life. What a joy it is to remember that God finds you worthy of His everlasting care and love and that you are an inheritor of His eternal kingdom. What more could a child ask for? VERSES: Jeremiah 31:3 “Long ago the Lord said to Israel: ‘I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.’ ” Psalm 103:10-14 "He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth." Exodus 15:1-3 “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise Him—my father’s God, and I will exalt Him! The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name!” Deuteronomy 31:6 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Isaiah 55:8-9 “ ‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ ” PRAYER: Father, I don’t understand how my earthly father could have been so loving to me and yet so abusive to my beloved cousin. I, as all mankind, will never know what lies in the hearts of man! What I can always rely on, however, is who You are: steady, unchanging, promise keeping, and One who defines unconditional, agape love. You will never leave me, fail me, or forsake me. When I don’t understand the things of this world, I will keep my eyes focused on You and choose to trust You fully and completely, for I acknowledge that my understanding, ways, and thoughts could never approach Yours. I thank You with all my heart that I don’t have to rely on an earthly father for love , understanding, or acceptance; I have You! Thank You with all my heart for being my true Father. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! “Then God said, ‘Let Us make human beings in Our image, to be like Us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.’ ” Genesis 1:26-27
It was in 1965 that Morris Rosenberg first initiated the term self-image.1 Since that time, hundreds of books have been written about self, which make us ask questions such as, “Who am I? Do I have worth? Do I have value?” The focus is entirely on self. But is this what God taught and intended? I don’t believe so for several reasons. As we read Scripture, we discover that Jesus never was focused on self. In every way, He exemplified placing others before Himself. He put His Father’s will above His own when He said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.” Luke 22:42 He taught His disciples that serving was more important than being served: “ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28; And He taught that others were more important than self: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 When some focus on self-image, they possibly strive for status gained through wealth and/or power to demonstrate their importance in the world; but not God! “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:9-12 “The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at Him. Then He said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.” Luke 16:14-15 God does not want us to focus on self or feel valued because of cultural status, wealth, or power, nor does He want us to focus on ourselves to the extent that we question who we are and whether or not we have worth or value. God never intended that we judge our worth by the world's standards! God wants you and I to remember that we are created His own image! Imagine, God’s image! Would we ever question God’s worth or His value? NO! If we started to list proofs of His worth and value, His character, and how much He loves us, the list would go on indefinitely! Therefore, because we are made in God’s image, we NEVER should question our worth and value. I will have to admit that one time I did exactly this, when I was a mature enough Christian that I should have known better! I questioned my value because my life situation had changed and I felt I lacked purpose. I’ll never forget that it was as if Jesus reached down and held me when I expressed this to my husband, for Terry reached out, took me by the shoulders, looked me in the eye, and said, “Candice Mary Thomas, I love and value you not because of what you do, but because of who you are.” This is the knowledge God would have you and I place deep within our hearts. God gives us our worth; He loves us; and He is happy that we are who He made us to be! He never values us because of what we do, but because of who He made us to be! So let’s discard the term self-image, remembering that we are made in God’s very own image and we are God’s treasures indeed! 1. https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-image.html VERSES: Philippians 2:3 “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Matthew 19:30 “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” Matthew 20:16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Mark 10:25 “In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.” PRAYER: Father God, I thank You that You made me who I am. When I have doubts about that, please remind me that You created me in Your image! When I think of the depth of all this implies, I honestly admit that this truth is almost incomprehensible to my mind! Yet I know the like You, You have given me a will, emotion, and intellect; please, help me always use these for Your glory. Let me never forget that what You have given me in these areas as well as talents and spiritual gifts are to be used not for my gain, but for use in the spreading Your Good News of salvation through belief in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Let me always find my value and worth in You, Father, and not in anything in this world. Amen. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
Have you ever thought about the blessings God has given you through the people He has brought into your life? Have you thought about how different you would be had they not been there? As I look back, I clearly see God’s hand at work, day after day, year after year, placing people and events in my life that thankfully changed me forever and still continue to do so. I was 29 when God blessed me with Terry as my husband, and as I begin writing this devotional today on my 45th wedding anniversary, May 28th, I praise the Lord for bringing him to me. Without Terry, I might never have learned about the love Jesus has for me and how He wants a relationship with me that is personal and intimate; and because of Terry, I was introduced to a generous and loving family who were the hands and feet of Jesus—living examples of true, genuine Christian faith. It’s a long story, but God provided a miracle which led us to a very small church where Pastor Vaughn Nelson (now with his beloved Jesus) taught the Word, verse by verse, using an overhead projector. He gave us meat, and we were like desperate lions roaring for it! God was giving us His living water: “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 Pastor was following Jesus’ words to Peter when Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 15:17 It was in this church I first saw Jesus’ Spirit being demonstrated, and it was something I had never experienced before. The pastor regularly visited us, answering our many questions, and as we grew in the faith, urged us to share Christ with our neighbors. Also, within the first several weeks of our attendance, Christ’s love was displayed to us in more ways than I can describe. Examples: One dear woman surprised me by knocking on our front door and handing me my first Bible study. “Work through this, then let’s talk!” Then there was the family who invited us for lemon meringue pie to get to know us, while another had us to dinner, talked of Jesus, and introduced us to Christian music. Others had us to their homes many times to talk with us of Jesus. Very importantly, the entire church drew together in unity and began a new believer’s class on our behalf. There we learned the basic truths of Christian faith—the Good News: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 This describes only the beginning of the blessings God’s family has been in our lives. As we moved several times, our Lord always placed us in churches and careers where there were faithful followers of Christ: pastors teaching His Word, their lovely wives, devoted Christian brothers and sisters, fellow teachers, and best friends—all whose examples grew us then and continue to grow us now in our faith. How can one begin to describe that?! Truly, there is no way, but there are no people dearer than God's people, and I thank Him for each and every one of them and pray His abundant blessings upon them. I also pray the same for you! I would urge you to take some time and think about those God has placed in your life. Who were the people who led you to Christ as Savior? How have they influenced who you are today, and who are those who continue to bless your life? Take a little more time and thank God for how He has directed you on your journey and brought to you those who build you up, grow you in Christ, and walk with you through life’s many ups and downs. May those people be blessed, and may God be glorified through all He is making you to be! VERSES: Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” John 15:17 “A third time He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” PRAYER: Father, thank you with all my heart for blessing me with the people you know I needed and still need in my life to teach me and daily transform me more and more into your image. You have provided pastors, church members, and those who have become my dearest of friends…all demonstrating your love and spirit, shining with the heart of Jesus. As You have been clearly glorified by their love and care, may my life—all I say and do—also glorify You, Father. Indeed, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.” Revelation 4:11 DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
“Quietness” by Doran 1 “Be still and know that I am God,” That I who made and gave thee life Will lead they faltering steps aright; That I who see each sparrow’s fall Will hear and heed thy earnest call. I am God. “Be still and know that I am God,” When aching burdens crush they heart, Then know I form thee for thy part And purpose in the plan I hold. Trust in God. “Be still and know that I am God,” Who made the atom’s tiny span And set it moving to My plan, That I who guide the stars above Will guide and keep thee in My love. Be thou still. It used to be, as a young Christian, meaning young in my faith, I did not know how to be still and let God be God. I also thought that once accepting Jesus, life would be run through rose-colored glasses. So when hardships happened in my life and in the lives of those I knew and loved, I would ask God, “WHY?” For example, just weeks after accepting Jesus as my Savior and just before closing, the well on the home my husband were selling went dry causing the buyers to back out. Instead of having a handsome profit, we ended up with two house payments because we’d already moved to another city! “Why?” Then, after the failed closing, we could not find another buyer or even renters for that first house, and when we did, why did they destroy that home? Vastly more important came one of my most burdening whys, and that was why wouldn’t my brother listen to anything about Jesus? He didn’t early in my faith, and he didn’t in the mature years of my faith; on his deathbed, he was especially unwilling to listen to the truths of our Lord’s love for him and Jesus' offer of salvation. In years past, I would have asked, “Why?” Throughout ensuing years, however, as I studied God’s Word and grew to know God and His heart, I stopped asking “why” and started truly understanding that our God is One who can be and should be trusted at all times. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 He is the One who, in His perfect knowledge, will accomplish all according to His perfect plan and timing, no matter how things appear to us! God tells the prophet Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 This clearly reminds us that God is sovereign, in control, and that He has a plan for our lives. A friend asked me after my sudden, February 12, 2019, triple-bypass heart surgery if I asked God, “Why me?” and I replied, “Why not me?” God didn’t give me any deep revelation, but what I did hear over and over within was, “Trust Me!” I did, and I will say that now in every moment of my life, I continue to do so. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! . . . Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” Psalm 46:1-3; 10-11 As time goes on, there are many things I don’t understand, especially the stubborn hearts of my loved ones who don’t turn to Jesus, the One would choose to be their Savior; but, I do my best to turn all my concerns and burdens over to my Lord’s hands, knowing He desires no man to perish. I also believe God's promise that He is with us during every trial and/or time of persecution and that He promises to give us strength in all those times. "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You." Psalm 9:9-10 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 No, I don’t understand many things, but then, I’m not meant to; I’m simply meant to be still and trust in our omnipotent, omniscient, ever-present, Almighty God. Let us all rejoice that we have a God we can fully trust in all things at all times, then be still while He performs His mighty deeds in our lives, in the lives of others, and in the world, always remembering Jesus’ words, “Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want your will to be done, not Mine.” Luke 22:42 Indeed, let us all be still, knowing that our God is God and the supreme King of our universe! 1. “Quietness,” by Doran. Leaves of Gold, Revised 1948, the Coslett Publishing Company, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. VERSES: Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 9:10 “Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You.” Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” Matthew 6:25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” PRAYER: Thank you, Father, that you continue to teach me to be still and let You be God, accomplishing Your purposes in all that happens on the earth and in every life of every person. To me, there are many mysteries and happenings that I don’t understand and can’t possibly comprehend, but I choose to trust you in all situations at all times. Thank you, Father, that I can let my heart be still and turn every worry and/or concern over to You, trusting for your perfect will to be accomplished. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! ”But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8
(The author of the following poem, "Tribute," is not attributed in the book from which I took it: Leaves of Gold, Revised Edition, 1948 by D.G. Releg, Coslett Publishing Company, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.) One of my favorite poems, “Tribute,” describes true friendship. However, when I read it carefully, meditating on the words, I find it perfectly describes Jesus’ relationship with me and who He is growing me to be as I walk with Him through life. As you read this poem (typed in black), dwell on your Perfect Friend, the One who loves you most! “I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.” Jesus, I love you because you are my God, the One who created me. I love how you chose to leave heaven to come to earth as a babe and voluntarily submit Yourself to Your Father’s will, dying in our place upon the cross. I love how you are growing me more and more into Your image each day…thank You for what you are making of me and for bringing out the best in me because of who I am in You. “I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart, and passing over all the foolish and frivolous and weak things which you cannot help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out into the light all the beautiful, radiant belongings, that no one else had looked quite far enough to find.” I love how You search me and know me, that You forgive my sin when I ask, then go on to build up the good things You've placed inside me. You see all I can be, not what I have been. I love You for this! “I love you for ignoring the possibilities of the fool and weakling in me, and for laying firm hold on the possibilities of good in me. I love you for closing your eyes to the discords in me, and for adding to the music in me by worshipful listening.” I love how You turned my heart from evil to good when I accepted You as Savior and how You respectfully listen to my every prayer, answering each according to Your perfect will. “I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life not a tavern but a Temple, and of the words of my every day not a reproach but a song.” Since being saved, I’ve seen You turn my bitterness into joy, my hatred into love, and my depression into song. Indeed, You are building a Temple of my life instead of the tavern it would have been without You; You have given me a beautiful new song to sing, turning a dirge into one of triumph and celebration--all because of who You are! I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it just be being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means after all.” I love you because nothing could have changed my life as You have done. You are what makes me good, and You are what makes me happy. You have done this by becoming MY God--perfect, loving, giving, merciful, compassionate, and awesome God--the One who died in my place to open Your eternal home to me. What greater gift could a friend give? Nothing! Indeed, You are the truest friend of all time! VERSES: Psalm 139:1-6 “O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Psalm 139:17-18 “How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand. And when I wake up, You are still with me!” John 15:13 “ There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Lamentations 3:22-23 “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” PRAYER: Thank you, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit for loving me so greatly that You gave Your everything for me, and in so doing, You gave me life—not a life that blows in the wind, but one that is firmly rooted in You and one that will last forever in Your eternal Kingdom of love and peace. Thank You that in saving me, you began a good work that You will see to completion. I can never thank You enough for making of my life, “not a tavern, but a temple.” You are the greatest friend one could ever hope or pray for, and I thank you for being mine. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! |
Author Candice Mary Thomas writes about loving God and loving people! Coming to Christ at age 32 and now in her 70's, Candice knows what a difference it makes living with or without Christ as one's personal Savior. Archives
December 2022
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