May 4, 2024

Empty Vessels

May 22, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and His disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They’re just about out of wine.”  Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t My time. Don’t push Me.”  She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”  Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings.  Each held twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.”  And they filled them to the brim.  “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.  When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff.  But you’ve saved the best till now!”  This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.

John 2:1-11 MSG

Jesus performed many miracles during His time here on earth yet the one He performed at Cana is still the most awesome wonder of them all.  For Jesus filled the empty vessels with only good.

Nothing destroys life like emptiness.  Those hollow places, holes really, inside of us never lay dormant for long.  They just keep sucking the life out of us and out of anything that gets close to us.  And left to our own device, we will self-destruct.  Even believers struggle with this and battle those feelings of emptiness.  We can know that eternal life is ours, and yet never be actually filled with the love of God.  You may have a whole lot of knowledge of who He is yet not really know Him personally.

Please listen close…If Jesus has not been asked to fill all the empty spaces in our lives, we may be saved but, friend, we are not safe!  There is nothing in this world that can satisfy you and truly give you the abundant joy that Jesus came to give!  If we are honest with ourselves, we can probably list a few things that we have tried to satsify and fill ourselves with.

But today, let’s do something different.  Let’s take action!  Like this:

  • Being filled starts with being honest with yourself about what is missing.  Just as Mary told Jesus that there was a problem with the empty pitchers, we must also tell Him what is missing in our lives.  Tell Him every attempt you have made to fill the emptiness with other things, aside from Him.  Name people and things that have left you disappointed, feeling neglected, and unloved.  And tell Jesus what it cost you to keep looking for love and acceptance and healing in all the wrong places.
  • Then, when you have told Him all your needs, ask Jesus to fill you with His love and to overflow into those hollow places with the Holy Spirit.  Not just today but every day from here on out!

When we let Jesus have it all, fill us up with His love, others will see and they, too, will want what you have.  Just like those empty jars at the wedding, Jesus can fill us up with the good stuff!  He only has good stuff to give.  And you know what? He will never be surprised at your needs! He is so willing to be yours, all you have to do is ask…

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Do you know Jesus?  Are you trying every way that you know how to fill the emptiness in your heart?  You don’t have to anymore.  I ask that you pray this simple prayer with me:

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I am in need of a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son, and You sent Him to die for my sins and He is the Savior of the world.  I ask that You come into my heart today to be my Lord and Savior.  Help me to grow and learn more about You each day.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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But God Knows

May 15, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.  The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.  Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.  This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.  From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.  So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.”  As you can imagine, Joseph didn’t do what she wanted and it angered her…so she set him up and made it look like he came onto her.

Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her.  So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.  But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.  Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison.  The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.

excerpts from Genesis 39 NLT
(click here to read the complete account.)

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I should tell you that this story didn’t begin here…. Joseph was born into a family of lots of brothers and, of all of them, he was his father’s favorite.  Oh, how Jacob loved him!  It was because of this that his brothers sold him into slavery one day and let his father believe he was dead.  But God was always with Joseph and caused Joseph to succeed in everything he did.  The Lord was always glorified because Joseph pointed it all back to Him.

Joseph could have slept with Potiphar’s wife and Potiphar may never have ever found out about it…but God would have known.  And I am pretty sure that Joseph wouldn’t have been as successful either and all that hardship wouldn’t have been turned into blessing.  Aren’t we tempted every day with something that we could easily get away with…

  • No one would know if we didn’t keep that secret that we promised we would…but God does.
  • No one would know that we didn’t tell the whole truth on an application and who is really going to check if we finished college…but God does.
  • And is that friend calling you to meet her going to know that you don’t really have a doctor’s appointment? Probably not…but God does.  And when it comes time that you really need His supernatural favor, it may not come as easily.

Joseph lived a righteous life. I’m not saying that he was without sin, but his intentions and his heart were always in line with God’s Will.  And because of this, Joseph was eventually saved from prison (Genesis 40) and became a very important person to Pharaoh.

And those brothers that wanted to get rid of him?

Now Joseph was the governor of the land,
the person who sold grain to all its people.
So when Joseph’s brothers arrived,
they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
Genesis 42:6

Be all that you know that God wants you to be. Always stay in His Word and you will know what He expects.  And the Lord will help you succeed in all that you do.

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Do you know Him?  If you are wanting Jesus to be your Savior, then pray this prayer with me.

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need forgiveness.  I know that Jesus is Your Son and He died to save me.  I ask that You come and be my Lord, to live in my heart and life.  Help me walk through this life the way You want me to.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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God Sent A Fish

May 8, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”  But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.
He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port.  After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.  All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god.  And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.  But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.  The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep?  Get up and call on your god!  Maybe He will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”  Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.”  They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.  So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”  He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”  This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?”  (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)  The sea was getting rougher and rougher.  So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”  “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm.  I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”  Instead, the men did their best to row back to land.  But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.  Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.”  Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.  At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.  Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 1:2-17 NIV

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I have been Jonah before.  I may not have gone to the lengths that Jonah did to escape…but I had my own boat I floated away in.  Oh, how miserable I was.  Like Jonah, there were many storms and I took some of my shipmates down, too.  But God sent a fish for me also.  In a different form, of course.

We are so loved by our Creator that He will go to any lengths to rescue us—even from ourselves, even when we are the cause.  And when we try to run away, He will send a “fish” to redirect us.  Oh, how He gives so much grace and mercy.

We don’t have to feel shame and guilt because we are already forgiven. God wants the very best life for us. That’s why He leads us to places that we may not want to be…but He knows what’s best for us and He has already seen the rest of our story.

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What are you running from today?  Are you in the middle of a storm?  Hang on friend, help is in your reach.  Just ask your Guide to show you a new way!  Do you know Him?  Jesus longs to be in your life.  If you want Him to be your Savior then pray with me.

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and that He died for my sins. I need forgiveness. I ask that You come into my heart today and be my Lord. Thank You. Help me to walk with You daily. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Let It Go

May 1, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

I am of the opinion that there is no comparison
between the pain of this present time
and the glory which we will see in the future.
Romans 8:18 BBE

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Spring seems to be a time of deep cleaning and emptying out the places that only you can really see.  You know the ones, right? Everything seems to be in order on the outside, but if we really go into cabinets and drawers, there’s stuff that needs to be thrown away and papers that need to be shredded…and so on and so on.  ‘Organized clutter’ that’s what I used to call it.

Same with our lives sometimes.  There are so many things we are holding onto and our minds are so cluttered that we have a hard time just enjoying the present. And if you are sentimental, like I am, it is hard to let it all—the good and the bad— go.  When we think of the phrase ‘let go and let God,’  we tend to lean toward thinking about letting our past mistakes and sins go, and  not to dwell on them…and that is definitely right!  But…we also need to let go of the days that we loved so much, the awesome times that we cherished, so that we can truly enjoy the life that is ahead of us.  For me that means the house that I loved so much—the one where I strolled my babies around the lake, and had picnics in the park.  It can still be a good memory but it cannot be what I dwell on and long for.

God has so much more for us here and now.  Our lives are full of purpose and meaning.  We are His children and every day of our lives is His beautiful masterpiece.  The past is the past.  The future is the future.  And today? It is the “present”…the gift that unwraps minute by minute, so full of His blessings and joy and opportunity to share Him with so many.

I have lost a lot in the past and for a while I truly yearned and mourned for those things; so much so that I couldn’t even look at pictures from that time.  God heals those broken places and redeems them with so much more than we could ever imagine or hope for!

And we know all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

My prayer for us today is that we don’t want what we have lost so much that we miss what we have.  And that we will always see the blessings in each day as well as all the ways He loves us today. What do you need to let go of?  Is there pain in the hidden places?  Or maybe there are so many good memories you long for that you can’t see the beauty in today?

God knows your heart and He is willing to help you in anyway you need.  He is the Healer of our hearts and the Lover of your soul.  He is so good at helping us clean out the clutter so that we can see more clearly and hear His voice above all.  If anxiety is haunting you today, here are some verses for you to claim:

When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Matthew 6:34

Trust in Him at all times,
pour your heart out to Him,
for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8

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And if you don’t know Him, and you want Jesus to be your Lord, would you pray this simple prayer with me?

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and You sent Him to die for me and to forgive my sins.  Thank You for what You are about to do in my life.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Hearing His Voice

April 24, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.  One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernaclea near the Ark of God. Suddenly the LORD called out, “Samuel!”  “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?”
He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”  “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.  Then the LORD called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.
And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”
Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the LORD had said to him. But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.”
“Here I am,” Samuel replied.

1 Samuel 3:1-15 NLT

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Samuel was only 12 when he heard the voice of God.  God spoke so clearly to him, but only after he had positioned himself directly outside the Holy of Holies.  Have you heard God’s voice lately?

One thing I know for sure is that God wants to speak to us.  He meets you exactly where you are, no matter what you have or haven’t done. And He wants you to know His will for your life.  But you have to be in a position to listen.  There are so many distractions today and we can get so busy with the mundane that we cannot hear above the noise of life.

In the Bible, when God did speak to His people, He usually waited until they showed that they were ready to listen and to receive it.

For example,

  • He called Mary’s name after His resurrection, but only after she came to the tomb, seeking her Savior’s body (John 20).
  • He gave David advice on many important issues when he “…inquired of the Lord” (1 Samuel 23).
  • He spoke directly to the woman with the medical issues, only after she, oh so forcefully, made her way through the crowd to just touch Jesus (Luke 8).
  • And He spoke (in this record) to Samuel, a young boy who is so ready to hear His Heavenly Father.

Are you ready to hear from Him? Maybe you’re holding on to something that is taking up all your time and energy because you just can’t let it go. Maybe there is sin that you haven’t asked forgiveness for that is getting in the way of His message to you. You can start today fresh by clearing all the distractions and preparing your heart for complete worship. Seek Him and quiet your soul and wait on Him to meet you. Then ask—knowing and believing wholeheartedly that He will answer you, at just the right time.

And if this time in your life is quiet, don’t be distressed. Just keep worshipping this awesome God of ours and remember all He has done for you and keep telling Him how much He means to you. He will respond…are you ready?

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Do you know this God we are talking about? Do you know that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to live as we do, to experience all that we have to, so that He could be the model we can go by in this life? He died for you and me so that we don’t have to. If you want to have Jesus, I invite you to pray with me.

Dear Jesus, I am sorry for all the things I have done wrong.     I want to thank You for dying on the Cross for me.  I want to live a new life with You.  I ask that You come into my heart and be my Savior.  Walk with me and guide me.  Teach me more about You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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A Letter From Your Father

April 17, 2015 by

Many of you have gone on Spring Break or are anticipating taking a vacation this summer.  It is a time to refresh spirit, soul, and body.  Over the next couple of weeks, our faithful bloggers will be taking a ‘spring break’ from writing so that they can come back to us refreshed and freshly anointed.
However, Girlfriends’ Coffee Hour website won’t ‘go black’!  We will be revisiting some of our favorite blogs and daily devotions which have blessed us in the past.  We pray that each of you, our faithful friends and readers, will continue to start your day meditating on the devotionals and songblogs, and be encouraged and blessed.

Let’s give each of our bloggers a big round of applause, a hug,
and the rest they so deserve.  God bless you, ladies!

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves,
so that you live in fear again;
rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15

Adoption…God has searched you out and adopted you for His own.  Before you knew you even needed Him as your Father, He had already filled out the paperwork and made you a room in His House.

For God knew His people in advance,
and He chose them to become like His Son,
so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29

He will never leave you fatherless in this world…after all, He wrote your name in His family tree.  And He paid a huge price for you too!

God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law,
so that He could adopt us as His very own children.
Galatians 4:5

We didn’t pay for our adoption, we only have to accept it.  The minute we do, we go from orphans with nothing to heirs with everything.  We are adopted into a new family…but we are not home yet.  We know our Father’s name, but we haven’t seen Him face to face yet.  He has claimed us but He hasn’t come for us yet.  But we know He will.  But until that day, we live as His.

You are no longer wandering alone.  You are loved so much by a King! Someone actually paid for your freedom in full with His own life!  All the sins you have committed and ever will have already been erased by His blood.  You can never do anything to make Him love you any more or less.  And, though this world may be hard, He will never let you flounder alone.  He wants so much for you, His child.

If God were to write you a letter, it might sound like this:

Dear ______,

I love you more than  you will ever understand.  I bought you and I complete you.  I will always comfort you and I will never fail you.

I know all that you have done, all the regrets and shame you feel about your past.  I want you to know that My grace is sufficient for you and I have put them all behind Me.  I have the ability to actually forget them and, of course, forgive them.  You have been washed clean, like new.  Please come to Me, for I have truly set you free.  I broke the stronghold of the enemy.  You have a home with Me in Heaven and all glory. There you will have no more sorrows, no more sadness or crying and no more death and pain.

I see that you are worried about so much that you cannot control.  But I can.  Please put your trust in Me and I will rescue you every time from all your trials.  Cling to me in your struggle and know that I will give you the strength you need to get through what is in front of you.  Don’t ever give up.  I will give you the help you need and I will give you courage.

Just trust me with all that you have.  I will never leave you.  I never sleep and I am always looking out for you.  I will go before you and make a way.  I have planned every detail of your journey here and until I come again and bring you home, I will give you what you need daily.  I love you, my precious child.

Keep pressing on toward the finish line, never losing momentum.  I will see you soon!

Your Father

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Do you know Jesus?  He is waiting on you with open arms.  I encourage you to pray with me today and ask Him into your life, to be Lord.  Pray with me:

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner.  I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and You sent Him to die in my place.  I ask that You come into my heart and be my God.  Please go with me and help me to grow in You.  Thank You for this life You have given me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The One Who Thanked Jesus

April 10, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

And as He went to Jerusalem, it just so happened that He went through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered into a certain village, ten lepers met Him, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, pity us.” And seeing them, He said to them,”Go show yourselves to the priests.” And it happened, as they went, that they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back and glorified God with a loud voice. And he fell down on his face at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan. And answering, Jesus said. “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were none found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him,”Rise and go, your faith has cured you.”

Luke 17:11-19

This story is quite simple to understand….  As Jesus was passing between Galilee and Samaria, He saw ten lepers coming toward Him.  They were begging Him for mercy and healing.  So Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests (which was a prerequisite to be declared clean and free from leprosy).  And, as the ten of them ran off, they were healed!  But, can you believe out of the ten, only one—a Samaritan—came back and praised Him.

{Aren’t we guilty of this?}  God blesses us a thousand times and we forget to thank Him and we find something to complain about.  Something He didn’t get quite right and we want a do-over.  Friend, until we begin to thank Him and praise Him, even in the hard times, we will never be fully filled with joy. Praising and thanking Him  and naming each gift reminds us of how much He has blessed us and how much He loves us…and that we serve a good God Who can only give good things.  It may not look good on the outside, but there is good to come of it or from it.  If we let Him in and allow Him to work in those times, He will  make it all worth the ride.

In the story of these lepers, we see that Jesus healed each one physically.  But the one leper that came back actually received far more for his faith; for not only was he cured physically—he was cured spiritually.  His soul was saved and he received a real relationship with God.  Nine lepers received a partial healing.  A temporary blessing for their time on earth.  The grateful Samaritan received an eternal blessing.  All he did was give thanks—he praised Him for the healing.  See, they all had the faith to trust Jesus, come close to Him, be heard by Him, and ask for His mercy. But only one had the humility and the honesty and character to say, “Thank You.”

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Who are you today?  Are you one of the nine…who has just enough faith to ask something of the Father and take it for granted?  Are you one of the nine…who really didn’t care about a real relationship with Jesus, and left right after the blessing?  Or are you the Samaritan…who not only had enough faith to ask for complete healing, but returns time and time again to the One Who wants so much more for us and longs for a real relationship with us.

Friends, I pray that you begin to really thank Him for what He has done for you.  All the small ways that He loves you.  And yes, of course the biggest way—when He sent Jesus to come and go before us.  And then to pay the ultimate sacrifice with His life so that we may live.  He continues to give us grace and mercy even when we fail Him over and over again.

Do you know Him?  Today can be the day that everything changes.  Your life can truly be one of joy and blessings.  All you have to do is ask.  I encourage you to pray this prayer with me.

 ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥

 

Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I need You to come into my life and change me.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He died on the cross to pay for my sins.  Thank You for this free gift. Help me on this journey to seek You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Follow Me

April 3, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Jesus’ first words to Simon Peter were “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 4:18-19).  Jesus’  last words to Simon Peter were “Follow Me” (John 21:22).  Every step of the way between these two challenges, Peter never failed to follow…though he often stumbled.  When Jesus came into Peter’s life, this everyday fisherman with nothing special about him, grew into  a new person with new goals and new priorities.  He was far from perfect but he was always himself.

What did Jesus see in Peter?  Only Jesus knew.  He even gave him a new name—Peter the rock.

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’) and upon this rock,
I will build My church, and all the powers of hell  will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:18 NLT

He didn’t always live up to that name, and he was quite impulsive sometimes. But Jesus wasn’t looking for perfect…He was looking for real. And Peter was a real follower of Jesus.

Peter was known for a lot of things but the one we think of at this time of year was his part in the Crucifixion.  First he defends Jesus when they come to get Him to arrest Him.  He cuts off the ear of one of the officers with his sword. Then Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows.  Of course Peter says there is no way he would do that. (But he does.)

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.  A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”  But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.  Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”  Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.  A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”  Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.  Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

Matthew 26:69-75 NLT

Can you imagine how Peter felt after he realized that he not only had denied knowing His leader, the Messiah, but he turned away from knowing his friend.  Jesus had loved him and taught him and believed in him before he ever believed in himself.  But Jesus never turned away from Peter.  Peter knew he had failed.  But Jesus knew, when He asked Peter to follow Him, that this would happen.  But it didn’t stop Him from asking.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

He is asking you today, too.  He is saying, “Will you follow Me?”  He knows you will make mistakes and you may even live a little like Peter.  You may not tell all you come in contact with that Jesus is your Lord, but He always will love you and He will always forgive you and He is your friend.  So if today you want to answer the call, I ask that you pray this simple prayer with me.

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner.  My life isn’t what I want it to be and something is missing.  I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son, and He came to die for me.  I ask that You come into my life and be my Lord.  Forgive my sins.  I don’t know all that I need to know about You but I want to know.  Please walk closely with me.  Thank You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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A Letter From Your Father

March 27, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves,
so that you live in fear again;
rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15

Adoption…God has searched you out and adopted you for His own.  Before you knew you even needed Him as your Father, He had already filled out the paperwork and made you a room in His House.

For God knew His people in advance,
and He chose them to become like His Son,
so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29

He will never leave you fatherless in this world…after all, He wrote your name in His family tree.  And He paid a huge price for you too!

God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law,
so that He could adopt us as His very own children.
Galatians 4:5

We didn’t pay for our adoption, we only have to accept it.  The minute we do, we go from orphans with nothing to heirs with everything.  We are adopted into a new family…but we are not home yet.  We know our Father’s name, but we haven’t seen Him face to face yet.  He has claimed us but He hasn’t come for us yet.  But we know He will.  But until that day, we live as His.

You are no longer wandering alone.  You are loved so much by a King! Someone actually paid for your freedom in full with His own life!  All the sins you have committed and ever will have already been erased by His blood.  You can never do anything to make Him love you any more or less.  And, though this world may be hard, He will never let you flounder alone.  He wants so much for you, His child.

If God were to write you a letter, it might sound like this:

Dear ______,

I love you more than  you will ever understand.  I bought you and I complete you.  I will always comfort you and I will never fail you.

I know all that you have done, all the regrets and shame you feel about your past.  I want you to know that My grace is sufficient for you and I have put them all behind Me.  I have the ability to actually forget them and, of course, forgive them.  You have been washed clean, like new.  Please come to Me, for I have truly set you free.  I broke the stronghold of the enemy.  You have a home with Me in Heaven and all glory. There you will have no more sorrows, no more sadness or crying and no more death and pain.

I see that you are worried about so much that you cannot control.  But I can.  Please put your trust in Me and I will rescue you every time from all your trials.  Cling to me in your struggle and know that I will give you the strength you need to get through what is in front of you.  Don’t ever give up.  I will give you the help you need and I will give you courage.

Just trust me with all that you have.  I will never leave you.  I never sleep and I am always looking out for you.  I will go before you and make a way.  I have planned every detail of your journey here and until I come again and bring you home, I will give you what you need daily.  I love you, my precious child.

Keep pressing on toward the finish line, never losing momentum.  I will see you soon!

Your Father

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Do you know Jesus?  He is waiting on you with open arms.  I encourage you to pray with me today and ask Him into your life, to be Lord.  Pray with me:

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner.  I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and You sent Him to die in my place.  I ask that You come into my heart and be my God.  Please go with me and help me to grow in You.  Thank You for this life You have given me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Beautiful…In His Time

March 20, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under Heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

Before we get started today, will you read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 with me?  I’ll make it easy for you:

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
What do people really get for all their hard work?
I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so,
people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

Time is something that I would love to pause as I watch so much around me change.  This past year I have seen my babies leave the nest and move away (I guess I really never thought it would happen). They are getting older, and I am getting older. With each month, day, year and minute, you and I are aging.

I imagine that you have weathered some hard things by now: loss and learning by doing; being married, divorced or single; raising children or not being able to have children…and so much more.  By now, many have probably benefitted from knowing your story.  Maybe you have mentored some younger sisters and shown them how God has helped you through rough times and shared some lessons that you have learned from just clinging to your faith.

Age isn’t all bad, right? Along with it comes wisdom and stamina (if not physical then spiritual), insight into deeper things, as well as looking at the more meaningful things instead of focusing on the trivial.

And as verse 11 (AMP) says,

“He has made everything beautiful in its time…”

That is YOU.  You are beautiful and God has a purpose designed for you at exactly this time in your life that is so different than any other time.  All those bumps and bruises you have had along the way and all the hard valleys and steep hills you have trudged are all so that He can grow you.

I remember as a child asking my mom, “How many days do I have left here on vacation?”  I so loved being at our favorite vacation spot that I didn’t ever want to go home and sometimes I worried more about the end than enjoying the vacation.  My parents would say “Enjoy what we are doing right now, Kim, and don’t worry about what tomorrow or any other day will be like.”  I think God says that to me, too—that wherever I am (and wherever you may be) that right now is so important to Him.  And that we should not worry about tomorrow and don’t spend time regretting yesterday but love Him now.  Trust Him now and worship and delight in Him now.  Now is all we have. See, it is in the process and in the living that the events of our lives glorify God, not just the outcome.

So whether you want time to stop or you are expecting the next phase, enjoy where you are now and ask your Father to show you just how much you mean to Him now and how important you are in His great plan!  All you have been through has meaning and will be used for something huge. Enjoy the process!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear God, thank You for this time of life.  Help me to see Your plan for me.  I want to glorify You in all that I do and say and in the experiences I have already had and those I have yet to do.  Give us the peace we need now and the faith to trust in You in the process.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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