May 4, 2026

Surrender

March 21, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 6—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’  Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
Matthew 5:4 MSG

One of the major issues that I had with God, an All-Knowing Sovereignty, is how the world could be so messed up—if God truly were in control, then how did things get so out of whack and why didn’t He do anything about it!  Why did it seem that this all-knowing, all-powerful and all-loving God had no interest or control of the world He created.

When I questioned why should I trust a God that didn’t seem to care about me and my life, the Holy Spirit replied, “You don’t care about Me and what I’m doing.”  I paused and thought about it.  The truth was I didn’t care about God and what He was doing; all I cared about was what He could do for me and that He make my life exactly the way I wanted it. Me!  God wasn’t about anything bigger than being my personal genie.

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.
Matthew 10:39

The Lord opened my eyes by pointing out that He was not the problem—I was.

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
Matthew 5:4

I have always been worried about being “too normal” or “not me” anymore.  When I felt the Lord tugging at me to give Him my all, I hesitated.  I knew that obedience would mean that I would be changing.  I was afraid that if I let God change me, then I would no longer be myself and would instead be some robot lacking personality.

I can laugh about it now, but then, I was truly frightened!  I have come to realize that the changes God wants to make in me are simply Him pulling outward who He truly made me to be inwardly.  Before society and life touched me, God knew me.  Before I ever labeled myself ugly or unworthy God knew me and that is not who He planned for me to be.

Giving God that which we hold dearest leaves room for us to be embraced by God because there’s more room for Him!  I have grown so much thanks to my obedience to the Lord.  (Please know it’s a daily thing!)  And I love the me that He is showing me that He made me to be—His workmanship!

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Thank You, Lord, for making me who I am.  Thank You for caring about me and loving me and teaching me.  Let me forever and always make the daily decision to make more room for You and surrender my life to You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Roasted Vegetables with Buttermilk Herb Sauce

March 21, 2014 by

Roasted Vegetables with Buttermilk Herb Sauce Resize

Did you have a fun and festive St. Patrick’s Day?  We didn’t do too much to celebrate.  (I have a little Irish in me, but no freckles!)   I did make a cabbage dish on Monday, leaving me with half a head of green cabbage.  I love roasting wedges of cabbage, but I wanted something a little more assertive, so I decided to make an herb dressing for them.  Add in some other roasted veggies, and I came up with this recipe for Roasted Vegetables with Buttermilk Herb Sauce.

Buttermilk is not something I grew up with, so I can’t really say much about it.  It does have a pleasantly sour taste that adds complexity to baked goods (think pancakes) and sauces.   If you add a lot of dill and pepper to this recipe, you’d have something very close to ranch dressing, but without all the chemicals and preservatives in bottled or packaged varieties.  I used parsley because that’s what I had but I’d like to try it next time with a big handful of tarragon.  If you grow your own herbs, this is the perfect canvas for trying new flavor combinations!

I served the sauce over roasted cabbage wedges and roasted golden beets.  Here is a list of other vegetables I think this would taste good on:  carrots, leeks, green beans, baked potatoes, and Brussels sprouts with bacon.  I served this with balsamic-glazed salmon last night, and you know what?  The sauce went great on the fish too!  I had a little sauce left over, so this morning I used it to make chicken salad for my husband’s lunch.  Find your own way with this delightfully green and springy sauce—start here!

Roasted Vegetables with Buttermilk Herb Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 4 beets
  • olive oil
  • 1/2 head green cabbage
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons plain yogurt
  • 4 green onions
  • handful of fresh herbs:  use parsley, tarragon, dill, or a combination of these
  • 1 clove garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • squeeze of lemon if desired (I used a big squeeze – okay, two big squeezes!)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400*F.  Prepare the beets for roasting:  Wash them and remove any greens from the top.  In a large rectangle of aluminum foil, place the beets, root tip facing up, in the middle.  Drizzle with a little olive oil, maybe a tablespoon total.  Wrap up the beets in the foil and place in a pie plate or Pyrex bowl.  Bake for one hour or until they give when you push on them.  Set aside to cool.
  2. While the beets are baking, prepare the cabbage: Cut out the core of the cabbage, then cut the cabbage into 4 wedges.  Place them on a foil-lined baking sheet and drizzle each wedge with about 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil.  After the beets have been in the oven for half an hour or so, add the cabbage.  Bake for about 15 minutes, then flip them over and bake again for about ten minutes.  (The time will vary depending on your oven, your cabbage, et cetera.  You want the cabbage to get golden and a little crispy at the edges, but not too dark!)
  3. While the vegetables are cooking, combine buttermilk, yogurt, green onions, herbs, and garlic in a food processor.  Taste it…need more garlic?  Go ahead!  Add salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon if you like and blend again.  Taste to make sure it’s yummy, and then put in the fridge until ready to serve.
  4. Skin the beets:  once they are cool enough to handle simply slip the skins off with your fingers.  If you are using red beets, you may want to wear gloves, since they will turn your fingers pink!
  5. On each plate, lay down a wedge of cabbage and a beet cut into quarters.  Serve the hot veggies with the cold buttermilk herb sauce.

Explore, experiment, enjoy! — Dana

To view even more of Dana’s unique recipe, you can visit her at Frugal Girlmet!

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Only Name (Yours Will Be)

March 21, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Yours will be the only Name that matters to me
The only One Whose favor I seek
The only Name that matters to me

Yours will be the friendship and affection I need
To feel my Father smiling on me
The only Name that matters to me

Yours is the Name, the Name that has saved me
Mercy and grace the power that forgave me
And Your love is all I’ve ever needed

When I wake up in the Land of Glory
And with the saints I will tell my story
There will be one Name that I proclaim

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, just that Name

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

 
~  Performed by Big Daddy Weave / Words and Music by Benji Cowart  ~
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 
Jesus.  The Name that calms storms and heals the sick and raises the dead to living. The blind could see again just by believing in Him.  The woman at the well carried Living Water home with her so she never would thirst again.  And Lazarus, he rose from the dead, just as our Savior would one day.  Jesus.   Doesn’t saying His name just calm you?

His Name is the name that we should seek above all.  Do you know that He experienced everything on earth that we do?  I’m not saying that He sinned, I’m saying that He lived here and walked here and saw the same hurts and sickness that we do.  God sent Him to pave the way for us.  And to experience the same powers that He had.  Of all the things of this world, nothing else matters except our relationship with Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God.  Jesus is the difference between life and death.  He is the difference between Christianity and all other religions. You must accept Him in your heart and have a relationship—a day to day speaking, and loving, relationship with Him.

Do you see His beauty?  Do you feel His presence with you?  As it says in this song, His name saves.  His name forgives and shows mercy and grace.  He so readily loves and so readily befriends all.  He is Jesus, friend of sinners.  He is the “I Am.”  We all will live with our Heavenly Father forever, because of Jesus.  He ate with tax collectors.  His own brother didn’t believe in Him and yet Jesus loved him so.  His own disciple betrayed Him, yet He broke bread with them and gave thanks, knowing that His own Father would have to turn His back on Him.  Don’t you want to love like that?  If so, then let’s do this together.  Let’s start now, preparing our hearts for His coming.  While we are here, let’s love each other.  Let’s get our hands dirty and get in the middle of life with each other.  There are plenty of onlookers but not enough team members!  Let’s ask God to empower us to truly turn it all over to Him and start fresh.

This week was the first week of Spring.  It’s time to do some cleaning up and cleaning out; and it’s time to plant some new seeds.  And when you’re ready to give in or give up, or when life is so hard and you just can’t breathe—just whisper His Name, Jesus. It still calms storms!

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

Let us pray:  Dear Lord, we praise You for who You are.  We thank You for sending Your Son to walk before us in life and prepare the way for us.  Thank You for Your Word that documents His every move, from birth to death and every miracle in between.  Oh, how we are blessed!!!  Thank You that we can call on You in every situation and You are right there.  Because of Your Son, we are never alone and never will be.  We will forever walk with You and we have been given life abundant, full of joy, full of peace, full of grace, and full of You!  Thank You for the journey…for the wild ride that’s called our life.  Help us to prepare our hearts for Easter and to never take His death for granted.  For it’s in His name we pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Where Are They Headed

March 20, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 
Matthew 5:4

When you’re driving down the road, do you wonder about the people in the passing cars? What are their stories? Where are they headed?

When you leave the grocery store pushing your buggy, do you see all the people silently walking in the parking lot and wonder what their stories are?  I do. I even wonder if they are in some kind of pain masked by doing routine tasks.

Immediately after September 11th 2001, people engaged in conversation more easily and were so willing to help each other—even perfect strangers.  We didn’t even have to live where planes crashed into towers or the Pentagon to feel that we were all in this together.  A tragic situation had occurred, and we were united together.  We mourned the loss of so many lives.  We hurt together as a nation.  We easily reached out to each other.  And now, almost thirteen years later, we quietly walk in different directions again.  But shouldn’t we be thinking about engaging with others more than we do since none of us knows what each day holds?  Tragedy could happen at any time.

When the World Trade Center towers fell that day and so many lives were lost in New York City and other lives were lost at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and still others in a barren field in Pennsylvania—all of those were enormous, sorrowful tragedies especially for the loved ones left behind.  We were all saddened that each and every one of those lives ended that day, and our hearts hurt for those who loved them so much!  But I hope you will understand when I say that a far greater tragedy than leaving this earth early or unexpectedly is leaving this earth without a Savior!

My heart is burdened for those who don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior.  Life is hard at times…even when you DO know Him as Savior.  (I can’t imagine life without Him!)  But for those who come to death without having believed, received, and trusted Jesus as their Savior (having asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins and knowing He took their place in dying for their sins on the cross) before they take their last breath, they will enter into a horrific place called hell where they will be separated from God for eternity.  (See Luke 16:19-31.)   I wish that for no one!

To those who are saved, let us mourn and be broken-hearted for those who do not know Jesus!  Let us pray for them!  And let us engage in conversations with them as the Holy Spirit prompts and leads us.

On September 11th 2001, many kissed their loved ones good-bye that morning not aware they would never see them again.  Perhaps it’s time to start having important and urgent conversations with the people we know and love.  To decide to have a relationship with Jesus and to be forgiven of your sins is the most important decision one could ever make!  (Please see Ephesians 2:1-10.)

Do you know where your family, friends, and others are headed?

If not, let’s pray that we all start talking about Jesus with them!

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Dear Lord, we praise and love YOU!  Let our hearts be broken for those who don’t know You yet.  Guide us in when and how you may call us to approach them and in what to say. Help us start talking.  Let us use the power of Your Word and let us say it with love, as it will provide truth.  Prepare the hearts of those who speak and of those who hear.  In it all, You will lead us, love us, encourage us, wipe our tears – if need be, and comfort us.  Thank You!  In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Alive

March 20, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Who but You could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies and dream of me
What kind of Love is writing my story ‘til the end with Mercy’s pen
Only You

What kind of King would choose to wear a crown that bleeds and scars to win my heart
What kind of Love tells me I’m the reason He can’t stay inside the grave
You, is it You, standing here before my eyes, every part of my heart cries

Alive, Alive
Look what Mercy’s overcome
Death has lost and Love has won
Alive, Alive
Hallelujah, Risen Lord
The only One I fall before
I am His because He is Alive

Who could speak and send the demons back from where they came with just one name
What other heart would let itself be broken every time until He healed mine
You, only You, could turn my darkness into dawn, running right into your arms

I am His because He is…

Emmanuel, the Promised King
the baby who made angels sing
Son of Man who walked with us
Healing, breathing in our dust
The Author of all history
The Answer to all mysteries
The Lamb of God who rolled away the stone in front of every grave

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~ Written by Vicci Martinez and Peter Anders Svensson / Performed by Natalie Grant ~

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

What a powerful thought…that God was thinking of you and me!  What kind of Love is writing my story and yours until the end?  The love of the Father is something that I will never completely understand.  The love that loved me unconditionally when I was a sinner.  The same love that loved me out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Do you know the love of the Father?  It is a love like I have never known….

God loves with agápe—the love described in 1 Corinthians 13.  He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on the Cross for you so that you might have everlasting life. His love is not based on performance.  Christ loves you so much that while you were yet a sinner, He died for you.

God’s love for you is unconditional and undeserved.  He loves you in spite of your disobedience, your weakness, your sin, and your selfishness.  He loves you enough to provide a way to abundant, eternal life.  From the Cross, Christ cried out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing!”

Because of the Cross and because of Jesus I am no longer led by the old man.  I have been made new.   am a new creation because of Him!

What does it mean to be ALIVE in Christ?

Ephesians 2:1-8 NLT says this :
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead.  (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  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.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

Thank You, Father, that You have turned my darkness into light.  Thank You for Your unconditional love that won my heart.  Thank You, Jesus, that I am Yours because You are ALIVE!!!  In Your  Name, Amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Find Time for Exercise with a Little Multi-Tasking

March 19, 2014 by

Step by stepWhen there are so many things to do or things we want to do, exercise may become last on the priority list.  However, have you ever considered there are things you can get done while exercising?  Before dropping your workout for the day, think about how you may  find time to exercise with a little multi-tasking.

  • Get Organized

For me, before I can get my home organized, my work and daily “to do” list done, I have to prepare what and how it needs to be done in my head. I cannot tell you how many times I have developed a new plan of doing things after thinking about it during a long walk. I get things done, in my head that would not have been done without exercise.

  • Time with a girlfriend

Do you have that girlfriend who sends a quick message, “We need to get together for girl time?”  Then life gets crazy and there is no time to sit and talk.  Oh, the things we get accomplished when I go for a run with my best friend.

We get to catch up on each other’s lives and I usually get help and encouragement with something I have needed, but had not taken the time to stop and ask.

  • Quiet Time

So often I hear women say they struggle to have daily quiet time with the Lord.  Let me give you a little secret.  Jesus does not just wear sandals, He wears tennis shoes.  I know this because He has joined me so many times for a run.  There have been times when I felt Him and heard from Him the most while praying during a walk right outside my front door.

How would you view your time of exercise if you looked at it as time with God and a way to honor Him?

  • Get Creative

Do you have a job that requires creativity or volunteer where someone is looking to you for inspiration? Taking a walk can be an opportunity to clear your head and get inspired with new ideas.  Perhaps you struggle with being productive as I do.  If that is the case, bring your phone or a small notepad and pen in a fanny pack and jot down those ideas on your walk.

These are all things that can be done while exercising.  Think of it as a bargain—two for the price of one.  You may be surprised to learn that you can find time for exercise with a little multi-tasking!

 In Good Health,

Crystal

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Different

March 19, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I have had the right to stand and fight
But it would have still been wrong
I’ve had the chance to prove a hurtful truth
I had to let it go and just move on
‘Cause there’s a gift called grace
That’s captured my life
Though the way of the world is power and pride

I want to be different, Jesus, just like You
I want to be tender with mercy guiding all I do
So when others talk about me
Let it be because I am different
Let the difference be love

Let me have the kind of heart that shines
The light and shows You’re real
And where hope is dim and fear sets in
Will you use me, Lord, to help and heal
I don’t want wealth or fame
To define the life I live
Oh, let me be known for what I give

Every day is a chance to serve You
By caring for someone else
I will make the choice to surrender
And not live for myself

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

~  Performed by Mollye Rees and Jamie Slocum  / Written by Jamie Slocum  ~
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

 How many times have you said this phrase to yourself in your life time?

“I want to be different, Lord!”

Everyday, people are watching our every move, especially when they hear we are Christians.   They begin critiquing us in everything.   They want to know ARE we really different.   People look for different.

It’s not what is on the outside (our clothes, our hairstyle, our car, etc.) that is important and makes us different; but it’s Who lives inside us that makes us truly different.   We should be so different that others see it in our hearts, our actions, our attitudes.   Keep in mind, becoming different is not immediate when we say ‘yes!’ to receive Christ as Savior.   Before that moment we lived an ungodly life in an ungodly world trying to shed ourselves of old habits and behaviors that once were us.   Now we have a new life inside us—the Holy Spirit—that is ready to mold us to be different, to be just like Jesus!

Don’t get discouraged, becoming different takes time.  The ways of this world that we live in are natural and don’t have to be learned, but becoming different, becoming like Jesus, is a total change in thinking and action.

 Jesus was different. He was totally others-centered and the key to His difference was LOVE!

How can we become different so that others see Him? By pushing old things away, by letting our reactions to people be seen as the hands and feet of Jesus, by becoming a little more different—more like Him—every day!

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you
John 15:12

I wanna be different…how about you?

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * 

Dear God,  help us to read Your Word daily, Lord, and continue to teach us every day how we can change to be like You and when the world sees that difference then they will see You.  In Your name I pray, Amen!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Beauty for Ashes

March 19, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogoWe have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 
Matthew 5:4

For those that are in mourning over the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of any type that would cause you to be sad..know that God is always by your side to pick you up and help you with whatever you are going through.

…And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
Isaiah 61:3

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Compassion Hymn

March 18, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There is an everlasting kindness
You lavished on us
When the Radiance of heaven Came to rescue the lost;
You called the sheep without a shepherd
To leave their distress
For your streams of forgiveness
And the shade of Your rest.

And with compassion for the hurting,
You reached out Your hand
As the lame ran to meet You
And the dead breathed again;
You saw behind the eyes of sorrow
And shared in our tears,
Heard the sigh of the weary,
Let the children draw near.

What boundless love, what fathomless grace
You have shown us, O God of compassion
Each day we live an offering of praise
As we show to the world Your compassion.

We stood beneath the cross of Calvary
And gazed on Your face
At the thorns of oppression
And the wounds of disgrace,
For surely You have borne our suffering
And carried our grief
As You pardoned the scoffer
And showed grace to the thief.

How beautiful the feet that carry
This gospel of peace
To the fields of injustice
And the valleys of need—
To be a voice of hope and healing,
To answer the cries
Of the hungry and helpless
With the mercy of Christ. 

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Written and Performed by Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

When you hear the word, compassion, what does it make you think of?  Surely amongst the first things that spring to mind would be how very compassionate is our loving Heavenly Father.  The Scriptures tell us in many places about His compassion toward mankind.  In fact, as part of a word study in the Bible on this attribute of God’s nature—compassion—I found (literally) over 125 individual Scriptures that talk about God’s compassion…His being compassionate…His having compassion.

  • Compassion is a defining characteristic of Who Almighty God is!  For example, in this record (Nehemiah 9), God’s compassion is spoken of seven separate times.

But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness;
And You did not forsake them.
Nehemiah 9:17

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.
Psalm 116:5

The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.
Psalm 145:9

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.
Isaiah 30:18

But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him. It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:21-26

  • And, to be assured, there is record after record after record in the Gospel accounts of Jesus and the loving compassion He had for those around Him.

Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him,
and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Mark 1:41

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Luke 7:13

  • We, too, are to live the same.  As the words of this beautiful hymn express, “Each day we live an offering of praise as we show to the world Your compassion.”

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience….
Colossians 3:12

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic,
love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8

But if anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother and fellow believer in need,
yet closes his heart of compassion against him,
how can the love of God live and remain in him?
1 John 3:17

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

May we each today reach out to those around us…loved ones, strangers, the untouchable, the harsh and critical, those who persecute us, who do not understand us, the hurting and the hurters…with this compassion that is ours to freely give by God’s grace.  May we be Christ’s love to them…and show them the love, grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness given at the Cross.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Jesus Understands Mourning

March 18, 2014 by

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We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 
Matthew 5:4

Hospice.  This is a place where I live my days.  As a Bereavement Counselor, I can’t count the number of times that I have said these words of this Scripture.  Written them, printed them for a family member or a patient or myself even.  This Scripture is short and sweet.  The words touch hearts and minds, and remind those who read them that even themselves—the hurting, the scared—have not been forgotten by God. And that He took the time to let them know that He knows their hurt and that His hand is on their lives.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn.
Isaiah 61:2

Jesus knew what it was like to have a broken heart.  He, Himself, wept.  He hurt, He cried, and He shed tears.  He knows.

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
Luke 19:41

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping,
He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
John 11:33

Jesus wept.
John 11:35

The word mourn is most commonly tied with death…with the loss of a loved one, but that’s not the only case.  We can mourn any loss.  Death as well as the loss of a job, of a friendship, of a dream, a divorce, anything.  And in any case of loss or mourning, He will be there to comfort us, to love us, and to carry us through it.  My Study Bible pointed out something that I never thought of before.  It spotlighted the fact that in order to mourn something, we need to have a sensitive heart, and we need to have a tender heart.  These are two characteristics that are Christ-like.  So, when we mourn, we work towards developing these characteristics, another example of God working all things for our good.

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, mourning hurts…loss hurts.  Without You, I don’t know how we would cope with the losses we face.  Thank You for the gentle reminder of Your love and of Your comfort.  Thank You for showing us Your Son’s realness in sharing the times when He wept and when He hurt, reminding us that there is no wrong in shedding tears.  Blessed are we, when we mourn, for we will be comforted.  In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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