Category Archives: God's Love

Finding Joy in Final Moments

Bible Passages

Read John 14:1-4

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Devotion

A friend of mine, suffering from a serious illness for a very long time, texted me one night a few months ago. He wanted me to know he’d checked himself in to hospice care at the local hospital. I immediately prayed for him, then texted back for details so I could go visit him the next day, which I did.

He was in good spirits. He’d had several visitors before me, mostly family. He assured me his affairs were in order. His dog, his only companion since his wife died, moved in with his daughter. His will was finalized. He’d taken care of the myriad of minutia of his 70+ years, save a few things he handled from his hospital bed.He could no longer fight the disease consuming him, since it was too painful to eat. His meals came in liquid form, but he still didn’t eat or drink much.

I visited him every day. Every day I offered to pray for him. Every day, he told me he and God were good, and he didn’t need any fuss. When he would drift off, I’d sneak in a prayer anyway. On the fourth day, I felt him slipping away, so I prayed harder. As I lifted my head (he thought I was napping too!), I was suddenly filled to overflowing with joy. In fact, the whole room was filled with God’s love and joy!

As I opened my eyes, I saw and felt gigantic white wings encircle both of us! It felt like the room was full of angels. I could almost see them. I was witness to a miracle I’m still trying to sort out in my mind four months later.

I left shortly after that, knowing I’d never see him again on this earth. But the joy that filled me in that hospital room was strong and persistent. I drove home with tears running down my cheeks and a smile that stretched from ear to ear! I went to bed still overflowing with God’s love and joy.

The next day I went to the hospital as usual, but this time I stopped at the nurses’ station first. Yes, he had passed away.

I was so honored to have been invited to visit him during his final days. I was speechless and amazed that I was allowed to witness his moment of transformation! What a privilege it was.

That was such a special moment, and God allowed me to be a part of it. I will never forget how marvelous it felt. That joy starts welling up inside me all over again every time I relive that moment. Just thinking about it conjures up eager anticipation for my own special moment of transformation, once my work on this world is complete.

Prayer Focus

Those living or working in hospice care.

Prayer

Faithful and Heavenly Father, Who comforts those in distress, we ask You for Your comfort and peace when we fade from this earth. Remind us and those around us that this world is our temporary home. Our forever home is in heaven, where You have prepared a special place just for each of us. Hold us in Your mighty arms of protection and give us Your peace and joy as we make the final move into Your home. Comfort those we leave behind. Let them know we are not touched by death. Help them grieve, and fill the void in their hearts with Your love and joy.

Final Thought

This world is our home for just a short time. Our true home is in Heaven, where we will spend all eternity with the God who created this world and the entire universe! He loves us. He wants us to be happy. When we’re right with God, we will be filled with happiness and joy forever.

I Will Give You Rest

In this passage in Jeremiah, you are given God’s assurance that He loves you and He will do all the heavy lifting. Trust in Him.

Finances, family drama, drugs, alcohol, bullying, sex, jealousy, abuse, illness, physical challenges, mental challenges. All the things which burden you, don’t burden Him. Fixing these might take some time while He gets all the players and pieces lined up. It might involve earthly helpers like doctors or lawyers or accountants or friends. If we wait for His perfect timing, He will work all things to our good. Why? Because He created us. He loves us. He wants you to rely on Him for everything. He wants you to come to Him about everything.

What you eat, what you wear, where you go, who you trust. All these things are provided by the God who made you. He wants you to lean on Him, even in the small stuff. He doesn’t think of you as a pest. He thinks of you as His child. Yes, YOU are a child of God! Isn’t that amazing?!

Going to the Resurrection

Through the Cross to the Resurrection

“God Is Not a Slot Machine”

“God Is Not a Slot Machine”

Bible Passage

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Proverbs 4:6

Devotion

“While it’s true the Bible says you get the desires of your heart through prayer and supplication, that does not mean you get what you want. If you read the entire chapter, Proverbs 4, it says you first have to align your heart with God. Once we do that, it changes the desires of your heart. When you’re aligned with God, your heart desires what God desires for you. God teaches us that He will “While it’s true the Bible says you get the desires of your heart through prayer and supplication, that does not mean you get what you want. If you read the entire passage (Proverbs 4), it says you first have to align your heart with God. Once we do that, it changes the desires of your heart. When you’re aligned with God, your heart desires what God desires for you. God’s Word tells you that He will ” supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Proverbs 4:19)

This is a hard concept to understand. You may have heard God referred to as a Sculptor. He forms you from clay, just as He formed Adam. When you pray for God to direct your path, you are inviting Him to teach you the things He wants you to know, and to do the things He wants you to do. It’s an invitation for God to change your heart. What you want becomes less important. At the same time, what God wants for you becomes all-important.

Yes, sometimes it hurts. There will be times when you fall to the ground in despair. There will also be times when you are so happy you openly weep tears of overflowing joy. As you grow and mature spiritually, the times of deep despair lessen. It’s not because your challenges vanish. It’s because you are more confident that God is with you and will see you through whatever it is.

Prayer Focus

Those struggling in their faith.

Prayer

Dearest Father, Maker of all things, Sculptor of my life, thank you for always being there with me in all things life throws at me. Strengthen me. Mold me. Help me to be more like Your Son, Jesus. Give me what I need to be what You made me to be, so I may bring You glory. Make me into a loving child who makes You happy. In the name of Jesus Christ, my God and Savior. Amen.

Final Thoughts

If I ask, God will bring my heart into alignment with Him.

Worry Cancels Prayer

Worry Cancels Prayer

Bible Passage

31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
32 For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:31-33 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Devotion

I grabbed these wonderful words of wisdom from Joyce Meyer’s repeat broadcast this morning.

If I’m gonna pray about something and worry about it, too, then my worry cancels out my prayer. The act of prayer says, “God I trust You,” and worry says, “God I don’t trust You.” Worry chokes the Word and keeps it from being fruitful, according to Matthew 13. “Some seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” [verse 7]

Joyce Meyer Enjoying Everyday Life – Worry and Anxiety (4 Aug 2021)

Worry is one of the hardest things to give up. As part of growing up we learn to take control of our circumstances. We learn about responsibility. We learn about consequences.

Many of us learn, at some level, about prayer. We learn thankfulness. We learn to pray for others. We learn to pray for outcomes. We learn to pray before meals. We learn to pray at bedtime.

Some of us learn how to pray in conversation with God. We learn to talk to Him like a friend standing beside us, going through our day and continually discussing it with Him.

Very few people learn how to handle the part after the ‘Amen.’ Prayer means we are giving our worries to Jesus. He already knows what’s on your heart. He’s waiting for you to hand him the reins, LET GO, and let Him take care of those things.

One of the hardest things to learn is to hand our worries and fears to God and let it go. Once we learn to let go, we give God permission to fix it. Until then, because He created us to have free will, He is waiting for your permission. He wants to heal you, fix you, take care of you, and prosper you. Give Him permission to do what He does best. Show Him how much you love and trust Him. When you do, He will show you how much He loves and trusts you!

Prayer Focus

Letting go of fear, doubt, and worry

Prayer

Almighty God, He who bears our burdens for us, help us to rely on You more and to give You our heavy hearts, tortured minds, and burdened souls. Help us to keep our focus where it belongs, on You. Thank You for loving us so much! Amen.

Final Thought

Freedom lies in the path of the Lord. Give Him all your doubts, worries, and fears. He will make your path straight, your burdens light, your mind free, and your heart full of joy!

A Godly Man

A Godly Man

A Godly Man

Some denominations use the title of Deacon to describe a lay person, who fulfills specific helper roles and responsibilities. In other churches, the title of Deacon is used as an ordained minister’s rank and well-defined duties and responsibilities. Deacons do God’s work, and help tend His flock. In this particular case, deacon refers to a lay leader.

I often listen to TVangelists. This morning, I was listening to Dr. Robert Jeffress. His story began, as with all good stories, with the introduction of the main character. His description of this person is what caught my attention. “He was a deacon, a godly deacon.”

Did you catch that? It seems to me he wouldn’t need to add the word ‘godly’ to describe this deacon.

It saddens me to realize that we, in these times, must add the word ‘godly’ to indicate a person filling such a role in the way of God. When that role was created, nobody had to question whether that person was godly.

As sad as it makes me, I can only imagine how deeply it must sadden Lord Jesus.

Ash Wednesday 2024

Ash Wednesday 2024

The Upper Room has been a staple publication in our house as long as I can remember. Today’s devotion was so wonderful and appropriate, I felt compelled to share it with the world in it’s entirety. I hope you get as much from it as I did. We all need to work on forgiveness. After all, The Lord’s Prayer does not say that God forgives us so we should forgive others. The Lord’s Prayer says God forgives us in proportion to how we forgive others. Present tense. Not past tense. Not future tense. Right now! Please join me as I review everyone I haven’t yet forgiven. I’m sure I missed someone. Lord, please help me to do a better job of forgiving. Amen.

Vol 90 No 1. Copyright 2024 by The Upper Room. All rights reservedf.