Category Archives: God's Purpose

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.

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.

The Bible is Alive

The Bible is Alive

The Bible speaks to us where and how we are today. The more you read it, the more it will speak to the very things you are going through. You can read the same passage every day and get something new every time!

When a verse catches your attention, dig into it. Look at each word. Read different translations and notice where they differ. Sometimes it’s replacing “thee” with “you.” Sometimes parts are rearranged. Sometimes it seems like the words are completely different.

Let others help you understand what God is telling you through that verse. Do some research. Look at commentaries. Ask your search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc.).

The more you engage with the verses that grab your attention, the easier it will be for you to hear God’s voice, speaking to you through those verses.

Bad-Mouthing Jesus

Bad-Mouthing Jesus

In Acts 9, Jesus appeared to Paul as a bright light from heaven. Jesus identified himself as “Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” [Acts 9:5] As Reverend Kenneth Copeland pointed out, Jesus didn’t say Paul was persecuting His people; he told Paul he was persecuting Jesus himself.

When we criticize our fellow Christians, we must be very careful. It is not for us to know what their mission is. We don’t know their personal battles. Leave harsh words for those who belong to this world. Criticism must be given in love, not “good intentions.” We are to correct our brothers and sisters when they step off the path, but only when and how the Holy Spirit tells us.

When we whisper behind their back, we are helping the enemy. STOP IT! Gossip comes from Satan’s toolbox.

When we are called to correct a fellow Christian, we are to pray for guidance. Let God work through you to lead the stray sheep back to the path of righteousness. God knows the right things to say and do. Give Him the lead on this, as in all things.

One Good Thing Each Day

One Good Thing Each Day

God’s Might and Mercy

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Finding Fun and Laughter

A child’s laughter is my favorite sound! It is full of sheer joy. A child can be fully in a happy moment. They aren’t concerned with who is watching them. They don’t care if they get loud and rowdy. Catching the scowl of an adult can sometimes start a whole new round of giggles!

When Jesus told us we must be like a child, I think this is one of the childlike qualities He wants us to have. Do you have that “joie de vivre” (exuberant enjoyment of life), able to take joy from the present? Can you still giggle for no apparent reason?

If it’s been a while since you really laughed, it’s way past time! Find something that makes you laugh. Watch a funny movie. Watch a good comic. Dry Bar is a good start at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvlVuntLjdURVD3b3Hx7kxw. Just laugh. It’s good for you and it’s good for the environment. When you laugh, honestly and unashamedly, you bring a smile and light and mirth to those around you. You can change the atmosphere in the room. You can bring happiness into your life and others, even if it just for a moment!

Prayer Focus

Someone needing to laugh and have fun.

Prayer

Dearest God, who created laughter for us, your beloved children, help us to laugh more and to enjoy the life you gave us. Remind us how to have fun and how to share it with others. Show us how to laugh, honestly and fully, with our whole bodies. Amen.

Today’s Thought

How can I share my joy and peace with someone who needs to remember how to laugh and have fun?