November 22, 2024

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.

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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

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Jesus Understands Mourning

March 18, 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

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.

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The Comfort of God

March 17, 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

We have all lost loved ones and friends.  It is part of life.  It is our payment for sin.  We hurt when someone we know dies.  It is part of human nature to mourn and miss those who have passed onto God’s Presence.  We wish that we could hold them here, but God knows when it is time for them to come home.

I remember when my grandmother died.  There were many people at her funeral—more than I expected.  It was a comfort to know that people cared about our family. As per Southern tradition, many friends provided our family with food. It in its own way, this was comforting, but I still mourned the death of my grandmother.

God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalms 46:1

God blesses us by bringing people around us when we need them.  We know that we can turn to God when we are at our lowest.  We know that God will comfort us with His abundance of love.  There is enough for all to take joy in.  God is our Refuge in our sorrow.  He may not be here physically, but He helps our spirit rebound from the pain it feels for any loss.  He sends people into our lives to be the physical comforters.  They do His work by being there for us when we need them most.

God blesses us in our mourning by providing those people who can help us grieve and help us move on. When we, ourselves, pass into His presence, we will not have a reason to mourn because it will be a moment of great joy.  We will not have any pain.  We will be in God’s Presence and be worshipping Him.  He will comfort us Himself once we cross into His Presence.

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the comfort You bring us.  You bless us most when need it.  You are our Refuge, and we are grateful for Your love and comfort.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Comfort

March 16, 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

To mourn is—
1. to grieve over our own weakness in relation to God’s standard of righteousness and His kingdom power.
2. It is also to mourn over the things that grieve God, to have our feelings in sympathy with the feelings of God, and to be afflicted in our spirits over the sin (Acts 20:19).

So those who mourn are comforted by receiving from the Father “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

Paul told the Christians in Rome, “Weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Disciples face sadness for many reasons.  Discipleship is not about always being happy.  It’s about following the path of Jesus who was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).  He surrendered His rights to bless others.  He surrendered His life to forgive the very ones crucifying Him.  He saw through the facades of His culture and felt the real needs of people whether they were ill, possessed, or simply blind to the truth.

To be a Christian—a disciple of Jesus—means to care about people, their problems, and to “weep with those who weep.” But such mourning means comfort. Our sufferings, hardships, and struggles will melt away in the eternal light of God’s Presence and His grace.  Our heartbreak for those broken in our world will be replaced with rejoicing when many we have loved join us at God’s side eternally.  Those who mourn—who are deeply sad—they will be comforted!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is full of mercy.
He is the God of all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble,
so that we can comfort other people any time they have trouble.
We can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us.
We share in the many sufferings of Christ.
In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

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God of comfort, we thank You for You comfort us when grieved and when mourning. With the same comfort we get from You, let us reach out to Your people we are living with on earth; may they find comfort through us.  We pray that with Christ in us all will be well!  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

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Fully Dependent on God

March 14, 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 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!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:3

In the same sense that we can be rich in many areas—money, family, friends, love, etc.—we can also be poor in other areas of our life aside from finances.  I think for people who strive for excellence, the terms poor and weak are not words we take lightly or accept willingly.  When in reality they are not as negative as we think. When we are poor in spirit we are fully dependent on God.  Now this doesn’t mean that we need to be at the lowest place in our life or depressed or unhappy but it does mean that we acknowledge that without God we have nothing.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

When we say we’re weak, it doesn’t mean that we can’t handle where our lives may be or that we can’t deal with what we currently have on our plate.  What it does mean is that we are able to acknowledge that without God…we have no strength; because He is our strength, and in our weakness and dependence on Him…His strength prevails.

How wonderful is it to know and accept that we can be weak?  That we can be poor and still be covered by His love?  That we can be these things and be carried by our Heavenly Father?  That we don’t have to worry about our own strength and love carrying us through life because His strength and His love are far more than we need.

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to accept our weakness, our poor spirits, because when we accept these, Lord, we embrace Your Strength instead of trying to grow our own.  And when we accept Your rich love, instead of our own, we will experience a freedom like no other.  Thank You Lord for Your loving strength.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Move Over

March 13, 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!  ✞ ♥

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Matthew 5:3

I typically stay away from the Message Translation of the Bible, but on occasion I do find it useful.  Matthew 5:3 reads like this.

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and His rule.

How true this is. When I am not covering up an issue or trying to put my hands to solving a problem rather than trust God, I am making room for God. Where there is no room for God, you’ve crowded Him out—very likely with yourself.

It’s first nature for me to want to fix something, reason through something, and come to my own conclusions.  But now I’ve gotten quicker at putting the brakes on and turning to God.  Usually, but not always, before I’m at the end of my rope.  (Sometimes though I even get well past the end of my rope and still haven’t made room for God.)

I’ve always wondered why I keep doing this same thing…when in the end I know I always turn to God.  Part of me just wants to be so self-sufficient.  Who I’m trying to impress or prove something to is beyond me.  Habits take time to change.  Before I was saved I’d try to figure it all out, and sometimes I simply forget that God is always present in every situation.

When I read this verse in the Beatitudes, the first story in the Bible that came to mind was of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath; her story is told in 1 King 17:8-24.  What stuck out the most to me was in verse 12.  This foreign woman, who is likely not a believer, swears by God and says to the prophet,

As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread,
only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar;
and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in
and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.

She was transparent.  She didn’t try to save face or figure something out, she didn’t offer what little she had and then hope for the best.  She admitted her lack…and the Lord stepped in.  She moved out of the way and unknowingly made room for God.

Move out of the way and give God some elbow room.  You don’t need so much space.  I mean, we are talking about the Creator of the universe after all!  (He’s pretty big, you know.)

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Lord, more of You and less of me.  This is my prayer daily.  In a society where “me” is the number one priority it can be difficult remembering that You, Lord, ARE number one.  Keep me focused.  Thank you, Lord!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Be Like Children

March 12, 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!  ✞ ♥

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:3

My daughter is full of spirit.  Nattie is a pistol.  She chases after lights during cosmic bowling.  She jumps on the trampoline.  She jabbers at 90 miles a minute.  I can understand her almost 80% of the time.  She runs around the house like she is running a race.  Plus, she has a temper to match.  Needless to say, at the age of three, my Nattie Grace is a very spirited child.  But, like all children, she still needs me, and she knows how to get my attention.  She grabs my hand and pulls me to where she wants me, or she tells me to stop what I am doing because she wants something.

Yet, remembering that she is only three, I also know that she is poor in spirit because she does not have the ability to understand who Jesus Christ is.  As children of God, we should be like our own children—looking to God like children do their parents.

“Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said.
“Don’t forbid them, because the Kingdom of Heaven
belongs to people like these children.”
Matthew 19:14

As the children of God, we should also act like children looking for the love and protection of their heavenly Father.  We should humble ourselves before the Lord and seek Him as a child does their parents.  We are instructed to act as children seeking their father.  This is because that is what we were created to do.  We were created to be the children of God and to continually seek His Presence.

If we become like children and constantly seek God, we will be rewarded as the children of God.  We will live in the Kingdom of Heaven with God for eternity.  We must humble ourselves and tear ourselves from earthly desires.  As the children of God, we should constantly be seeking Him, His riches, and His glory.

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Dear Heavenly Father:  As we enter the season of Easter, please help us remember that Jesus died for us so we could be like children and constantly seek You.  Thank You for the sacrifice.  It is with this sacrifice that we can live with hope to see You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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