Category Archives: Guidance

Hard Times

Man sitting on bench waiting. Image by mykyta-martynenko on Unsplash.
Image by mykyta-martynenko on Unsplash.

Bible Passages

Read Matthew 18:10-14.

Read Luke 15.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

Devotion

Before you were born, God set a special path, designed just for you and only you. He created you to be the perfect person for that path. Only you can travel your special path. If you stay on that path, it will be easy and fun (mostly). Along the way, He will hold your hand. He will carry you through the difficult parts, the challenges, the tests.

The Bible is full of examples of people who went through hard times and came out with more blessings than they imagined. Joseph, Moses, Jonah, Abraham, Hannah, Noah, Ruth, Isaiah, Job, and most notably Jesus, to name but a few, showed us how to follow Him. They showed us how to be godly, happy, and blessed. Even when they fell into darkness, God was with them. We remember them because they held tightly to God’s hand through the bad times and the good times. We remember them because we love to hear their stories over and over. Their stories put our own troubles into perspective, and give us hope when we’re going through dark times. They remind us that God loves to take us out of our lowest moments, and bring us to our highest moments. Just like the dark nights makes us appreciate the sunrise, our dark moments make us appreciate God’s blessings with praise and gratitude.

Joseph was on top of the world as a child. His family was prosperous. He lacked for nothing. His father favored him above all his other children, but his siblings were jealous. They started a series of events that should have made him crumble. Joseph endured all the many hardships set before him, praising God all the while. Joseph’s faithfulness to God paid off and God’s plan for him was fulfilled.

Job did everything right and was doing quite well, but lost everything anyway. Through no fault of his own, he lost his wife, his children, his livestock, and his crops. Through all his losses, Job kept praising God. Job knew God still loved him, even though it didn’t always seem that way. Try as he might, the devil couldn’t get any traction on Job. Job was loyal to God. He never cursed God. The devil finally gave up trying to tempt Job away from God. That’s when Job’s rewards kicked in. He got back more than double what he had before. Job got a new wife, twice as many children, and his crops and livestock were more than doubled.

We aren’t always as faithful to God and Joseph and Job. Sometimes we lose our way. Think of the parable of the lost sheep, in which Jesus reminds us that no matter how far from God we stray, He hasn’t forgotten or abandoned us. He sends messengers (human and angel) to remind us of His love. Like Joseph and Job, we need to grab onto God. He is waiting for that. When we do, He will carry us through the brambles and rocks and other rough patches to bring us back to the flock. Just by reaching out to Him again, He will rescue us from our troubles and bring us home.

When we return to Him, just like the father of the prodigal son, He will joyously run to greet us and welcome us home. He will throw a party in heaven in our honor, complete with a live band and a spiritual buffet. We will feast until we overflow with His love and grace. He will bless us in heaven and on Earth. We don’t all get the same rewards, but they will be the rewards we need in that moment. We will be delivered and free, forgiven and comforted, rich in spirit and happy in our hearts, safe under His protective wings.

Follow where He leads you. He will provide almost everything you need to succeed. The only thing missing is you. God gave us free will, the ability to choose for ourselves what we do with our lives. He wants you to give yourself, fully and completely, to Him. When you do this, the results will amaze you!

Prayer Focus

Those in danger of turning away from God.

Prayer

Heavenly Shepherd of the lost, thank you for keeping me in Your loving arms. Help me stay focused on You. When I stray, help me find You again. Gladden my heart with Your love and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Final Thought

God is waiting for you.

God Even Loves Exasperating People

Pouting baby.
Photo by Ryan Franco on Unsplash.

Bible Passages

Read Luke 6:27-36.

23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:23-26 (NASB1995)

Devotion

People can be exasperating at times! That is when we, as Christians, are called to show how strong our faith is. We are called to show we are different. We are called to show those same people, in the moment we find them most intolerable or shocking or even horrifying, that God loves them – even when they don’t seem, to us, to deserve it. That is when we can be the catalyst for a most unbelievable and glorious victory for Christ!

If it’s the person behind you in line, step aside and let them go ahead of you. Tell them you are sharing the love of Jesus. If it’s your boss or a coworker, bring them a gift. A cup of coffee, a bouquet of flowers, a box of cookies, or perhaps a fruit basket, would completely take them off guard. You might be surprised at the change in them (and in you) over such a small gesture. Someone talking during a movie might talk less with a mouthful of popcorn. Use your imagination! Let the offender know the gesture or gift is from Jesus, who loves them.

We Christians are called to respond differently to challenging situations. We are expected to show the Light of Jesus in every aspect of our lives. Now, this is easy for us most of the time. We don’t have a problem showing our faith when we have enough money to pay our bills. We can easily shine when we attend a friend’s birthday party. It is much more difficult to be Christian when someone cuts you off in traffic.

Although it sounds trite and insincere, truly as yourself, “What would Jesus do?” There is a reason why this has become popular among the faith community. When you make it part of your automatic response to every situation in life, you will find the response God wants you to have. The more you practice this, the more readily the answer will come to you. This is because you are learning to listen to the voice of God. He is there with you, providing you with an answer, every time. By asking this question, you are opening your heart to His guidance.

Prayer Focus

People we find annoying, hurtful, or mean.

Prayer

Lord God, help me get past the walls other people have put up around themselves. Give me a way to reach out to them and show them Your love and mercy and grace. Help me lead them to You. Amen.

Final Note

We are called to be different.

Where To Start

Open Bible closeup.

Bible Passages

Constantly remind the people about these laws, and you yourself must think about them every day and every night so that you will be sure to obey all of them. For only then will you succeed.

Joshua 1:8 (TLB)

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalms 119:105 (NLV)

The man who reads this Book and listens to it being read and obeys what it says will be happy. For all these things will happen soon.

Revelation 1:3 (NLV)

Devotion

Lots of people are hesitant to start reading the Bible, for a variety of reasons. Some just don’t know where to start. Others are put off by the fancy, Shakespeare-like wording or all the begats and references to people and places that don’t seem relevant today. If you want to read the Bible, there are a lot of options you may not know about, designed for regular people like you and me who just need a little help.

There are many translations which use more modern language than the traditional King James Version. You might try the Living Bible (TLB), the New Life Version (NLV) or the Modern English Version (MEV). These are easier to read, and don’t contain ‘thou’ or ‘knowest’ or ‘doeth’ words. They still contain a lot of people and places. You can skip over those for now, when it gets too dry. One day those people and places will become more important. Until then, just skim them and move on. Pick the version you think will work best for you.

If you like, you could start at the beginning with the book of Genesis and work your way to the last book, Revelation. Another approach is to pick an easier book such as Psalms or Proverbs or one of the Gospels. Ask your pastor for advice. Nobody, not even God, expects you to understand everything you read, especially if it’s your first time through.

God knows that some passages are hard to read. He built in many layers of depth and richness of meaning. The more you study and discuss a passage, the better you will be able to grasp what God is saying. You will begin to see the deeper meanings. It sometimes brings up more questions than answers. That’s okay. It’s how the Bible is designed, so that it never gets boring or repetitive to read the same passage over and over. You’re supposed to ask questions. You’re supposed to dig deeper.

When you run into something you don’t understand, your pastor or priest is a great person to ask about it. After all, pastors are very knowledgeable on the subject. If you don’t belong to a church, call or visit one nearby. A good pastor will be happy to help you, even if you’re not a member of their flock. Your pastor might not know all the answers to your questions. Discussing the Bible with someone allows you to ask follow-on questions in real time, as they occur to you.

Another great source is the library or bookstore. Whatever the passage, someone has written something about it to help others wrap their heads around it. Many people have written explanations of specific parts of the Bible. Some books dive deep into one particular book or chapter. Some are written specifically to help us read the whole Bible.

Go online. There are lots of sites devoted to Biblical topics, some more formal than others. Some sites are set up in classic printed Bible format, which provide footnotes to the passages as you get to them. Others are less formal, and provide the passage couched in a paragraph or two of the writer’s perspective.

Watch movies about the Bible. I find myself inspired to read for myself about what was shown in a movie. Some movies are more biblically accurate than others. It’s fun (for me, at least) to fact-check those movies.

As you get more involved, you might want to look for resources that explain the origins of the passage. The term ‘lost in translation’ refers to the difficulty of picking words in the new language that carry the same meaning. For instance, it would be hard to translate an iceberg into a language used by people that only know about deserts. Some books even go into the cultural settings, giving you the perspective of the average person of that time and place.

Follow journeys on a map. Some Bibles include maps, and make it easy to find the places of that era. It gives you an idea of distance, direction, and terrain.

There are so many way to approach reading the Bible, and so many fellow travellers eager to help you find your own approach. Tell God, out loud, that you need help with it. He will put the right people and resources for you into your life.

Prayer Focus

Someone struggling to read the Bible.

Prayer

All-knowing Father, who created the heavens and the Earth, who breathed life into me, and who provided a guidebook for me, give me the tools and people I need so I can study Your words. Lead me to follow the path You want me to take. Help me use the Bible, so I will be prepared for whatever You have in store for me, and know how You want me to act in any situation. You are my God, and I want to do what pleases You. Amen.

Final Thought

Knowledge is power. Righteous knowledge is righteous power.

Knowledge Is Power

Image by Yogurt on Unsplash.

Bible Passages

Read Ephesians 6:10-17.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 (NASB1995)

Where the word of a king is, there is power …

Ecclesiastes 8:4 (NASB1995)

Devotion

We’ve all heard that knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you grow. Gather to yourself all the knowledge you can find. However, if you don’t share what you know, all that information is just useless junk taking up room in your head, collecting dust and making it difficult to put important, useful stuff in there. Choose wisely which tidbits of knowledge you keep. This wisdom will lead you to true power.

In school, you do battle in an exam. If you do your homework, you have a better chance of passing a test. It seems easy enough, but there are many distractions that take you away from your studies. Playing with friends is a big one. Doing chores or working to pay for your schooling is another. Make time for absorbing the knowledge you must have to pass a test. Showing your knowledge on a test proves to the test administrator that you have learned the assigned information. Even if it’s a small test or pop quiz, showing mastery of a topic allows you to continue learning at the next level.

In a debate, knowing all sides of a topic prepares you to fight a battle of wits with your opponents. When you know the topic, your argument can be rich in data points. By looking at all sides of the issue, you are armed against any attack. No matter how many opponents you face, you are ready to defend your point-of-view. By doing sufficient research and preparation, you will win the day.

At work, the best way to get ahead in the battle to the top is to know your job and do it well. If your company brings in something new (like a new process or piece of equipment), especially if it seems hard, volunteer to learn it. By choosing to do hard things, you will become essential to those who run the company. When they know who you are, you get their attention. By taking the hard tasks, you are bringing God’s blessings on your work. When it comes time for promotions, pay raises, or bonuses, you will be on their minds. You will be amazed at the rewards you will reap when you sow seeds into your workplace.

In life, you have to know a lot of things in order to do battle properly. You have to know how to keep up with your bills. You have to know if you have enough money for a taxi or rideshare or bus fare or gasoline to get where you are going, and know how to get there (or how to work your GPS app). There are a million things to keep track of at once. When a spouse and kids are added in the mix, those million things quickly become a billion things. Knowing how and when to juggle everything leads to a successful, stress-free life.

In your spiritual life, you ready yourself by studying the Bible. Everyone is different, and learning styles are unique to each person. Study in the manner best-suited to you. Be aware that some books are a little dry and difficult for beginners. There are pages of so-and-so begat doo-ma-flotchy or King Such-and-such did this, that, and the other thing. Don’t get bogged down in the details at first. Remember, Shakespeare and Hemingway are for the more experienced readers. It’s okay to bypass some things until you’re ready to tackle them.

God only cares that you are making the effort. He has put people, videos, books, social media, and so many other avenues, in your path for you. All you have to do is look. When your next battle comes, you will be much better prepared. Share the knowledge you gained from Bible study, and your victory for God will be much sweeter!

Prayer Focus

People who need greater Bible knowledge.

Prayer

Great and mighty God, I thank You for Your guidance in arming me with the exact Scriptures I will need for my next battle. I will study Your words and use them like a sword against my enemies. Mold me into a spiritual weapon, burnished in Your love. Arm me through Your grace and glory to win every battle, that I may glorify Your name and Your kingdom. Amen.

Final Thought

Arm yourself for the coming battle.

Always

Dog protectively lying with cat. Image by Alec Favale on Unsplash.

Bible Passages

Read Psalms 139:7:12

“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

Hebrews 13:5 (NASB1995)

Devotion

God is with us always.

Having grown up in a Christian home, I never really thought about what that statement means. I simply took it for granted that no matter what I was doing or where I was, God would be right there with me, always. I wasn’t always faithful to God, but I always knew He was there with me in all my ways, whether my behavior was good or bad, kind or selfish, brave or fearful, and if I was sick or well.

It goes a lot deeper than that, however, at least in English. The origin of the word always is actually the combination of two words, all and ways. The more I think about it, the deeper the meaning. Always includes all aspects of our lives. What does that mean, exactly?

He created the heavens and the earth for us to enjoy and explore, then provided plants and animals to cover our basic needs: food, clothing, shelter. We were made the caretakers of all these things. With God’s help, we learn how to do that, and how to make sure the generations to follow understand their duty to all of God’s creations, large and small.

He gave us brains to process and filter the information overload we are subjected to every day: news, sitcoms, movies, infomercials, rumor mills and gossip columns, reality television, talk shows, streaming media, text messages, phone calls, schedules, deadlines, internal and external criticism. The list grows daily. With God’s help, we know what is true and valid and useful to us.

He gave us many wonderful inventions to make our lives easier: automobiles, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, glass windows, coffee tables, mattresses, tea cozies, swimsuits, microwaves, ear plugs, ski boots, indoor plumbing, and even ice cream. I am amazed at all the things God has given us through others. I humbly bow in awe at all the things He has provided for us, which we mostly take for granted.

He gave us souls, the essence of ourselves, and knows us each by name. He calls to us through our souls. He guides our souls to seek Him out. Through our souls, He gives us strength and wisdom and kindness and joy and peace. Our souls are part of a gigantic pipeline tapping into the Divine. If we but open ourselves to Him, what joy and peace and happiness He provides!

He gave us hearts, which He fills with love and joy, meant to share in Samaritan fashion with all our neighbors: family, friends, strangers, and even people we will never meet. With God’s help, we can use social media to show the world what it means to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 (NASB1995)

Through it all, He is there beside us, to guide us every step of the way. Even if we stray off the way He set for us, He travels alongside us as we go our own way, there to help us get back to the way He wants us to go. All we have to do is ask.

If we put God first, everything else falls into place. He is with us always, all ways.

Prayer Focus

Inventors.

Prayer

Beloved Father, we thank you for everything You do for us. Large and small, seen and unseen, You are always in the background doing great things. You are the inspiration behind all great works. Yet, you take the time and energy to care for each of us, even in the trivial. You are always there, in all ways. Thank you! Amen.

Final Thought

God is with us in all ways, always.

God Sees It Differently

Bible Passages

Read Isaiah 55.

Your eyes saw me when I was still an unborn child. Every day of my life was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place.

Psalm 139:16 (GW)

Devotion

Recently, God filled my heart with a new purpose which would require all my time and energy. He gave me a full-time job. Spread the Love Ministries, this mission, is that new purpose. I have several qualities that make me a good fit for this mission. However, there are also many, many things missing from my resume. God sees it differently. He believes in me, even when I have doubts.

At the time, I had no other job, no income. I saw this as a hindrance. God sees it differently. Bills kept coming in: rent, electricity, my dad’s medical bills, and so much else. I was overwhelmed. I had a hard time not worrying. I had a hard time trusting God would provide me with everything I needed, even though I knew He would – just as He has a million times before. I had to be strong. God sees it differently. He is the source of my strength. He will lend me the strength I need to do His will. All I needed to do is ask.

This was a big ask, though. I didn’t feel worthy. I didn’t feel up to the task. God sees it differently. He has my path mapped out, and will show me, each step of the way, what I need to do. He will take care of the rest. All I have to do is ask.

I prayed hard about it. I prayed unlike any prayer I had ever prayed before. I laid myself at His feet, begging for His help and guidance. I asked.

A few days later, I began to see how God was taking care of my needs. I received unexpected money from family and other sources. I was gifted food. I got an offer to help with my sorely neglected yard. The vision I had been given to help my neighbors began with my neighbors helping me! [I think God has a passion for irony, wry humor, and precision timing.]

I realized then that although I am not the leader I thought I needed to be. God is. I am the follower. I am not strong. God is. I can’t see the path I am walking, but I know how to get to where I’m going. All I need to see is the next stepping stone God has laid for me. I stopped worrying about living up to my idea of God’s expectations and let go of the reins. All I need do is what is required of me, one step at a time.

When I think I am at the end of my rope, God sees it differently. He uses those times as opportunities for my growth as a Christian. He simply gives me a longer, stronger rope! He will provide, exactly as He promised. I just need to make sure to put my trust in Him, and ask for His help, in all things.

Praise God in all things!

Prayer Focus

People who are unemployed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father who made me for a specific purpose, thank you for being there for me every step of the way you have laid out for me. Help me to stay on course, centered on You, and keep me safe as I do Your will in all things, big and small. Amen.

Final Thought

God has a plan for me.

A Full Day’s Pay

Rejoice

Bible Passages

Read Matthew 20: 1–16


Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:12

In a now-classic television show, Oprah Winfrey had a season of giving. With the help of her many sponsors, she gave gifts to each member of the audience. After a few shows, the audience knew about this, and expected to be given something for attending the show. The exact gift was always kept as a surprise, but it was always something fabulous.

I was part of a television audience a few years back. There was a strict timeline. Everyone had to fill out some paperwork (who are you, why are you here, emergency contact, etc.), shuffle through a security screening gate, and file into an elevator. It was the largest elevator I have ever seen. We then learned the elevator contained the entire audience for that show. Anyone arriving after the elevator started moving would be left behind, unable to be in the audience for that particular episode. We waited a few minutes before being transported up to the floor where filming would take place, as there were a couple of people still being processed. Once they arrived, we were all taken up to the studio at once, together. The late-comers got off first, as they were closest to the doors, and got to choose their seats first.

I am reminded of one of the Parables from the Bible. Jesus told of a man who hired a group of people, very early one morning, to work his vineyard, offering each a fair and full day’s pay. All day long, he hired on anyone else looking for work. At the end of the day, he handed each worker a full day’s pay, beginning with the last ones to arrive. Those who toiled all day were paid last, and also received a full day’s pay. Some of those laborers protested, saying they should be paid more for doing more work than those who came later in the day.

The man reminded them they had agreed to a full day’s pay in return for a full day’s work, so they had received their due pay, and had not been slighted. He also reminded them that the money paid was his to do with as he wanted. Just as in other stories taught by Jesus, and the late-comers to the television audience, those who got a late start were celebrated first by being first to get paid. For us Christians, our full day’s pay is an eternal home in Heaven with our Father, whether we arrive early or late. What matters most to God is we arrive.

Just like Oprah’s audience, once that final trumpet blows to call us Home after our labors are done, we know a special prize is waiting just for us. We can only imagine how great heaven is, but just like on Oprah’s show, we won’t know exactly what it will be until the end of the show. Just like on Oprah’s show, if you show up before the elevator leaves, you still get in, you still get to see the show, and you still get your reward, a one-way trip to heaven. Just like on Oprah’s show, if you miss the elevator, you lose.

Don’t miss the elevator!

Prayer Focus

Those without Christ in their lives.

Prayer

Dear Father Almighty, help me find my way to You and, along the way, to help others find You. Amen.

Final Thought

Don’t let the elevator leave without you.

Lamb of God

Bible Passages

29 Now it happened at midnight that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 Then Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have spoken. 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have spoken, and go, and bless me also.”

Exodus 12:29-32 (Legacy Standard Bible)

29 On the next day, he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not know Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing with water.” 32And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He abided on Him. 33 And I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The One upon whom you see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, this is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:29-34 (Legacy Standard Bible)

Devotion

During Lent, we hear a lot about the Lamb of God, the Last Supper, and the Cross. We know about the Exodus from Egypt, and the speculation that the Last Supper was a Passover Feast. We don’t often delve deeper into the parallels between Passover and the Crucifixion.

We know that the tenth and final plague on Egypt was the original Passover. God told the tribe of Israel, through Moses, to gather up enough lambs to feed the tribe, no more and no less. The lambs had to be pure and without blemish. They were kept separate until the appointed day and time. These lambs were then slaughtered. Their blood was used to mark the houses of those to be saved. The body was used to feed the tribe of Israel, those to be saved. Any leftovers were destroyed.

That night, God took the firstborn male of every Egyptian and their livestock. The Egyptian gods were also defeated. However, the firstborn males of the tribe of Israel were untouched. They were saved. It was the last straw for Pharaoh. When he lost his own firstborn son, he was finally broken and gave in to God’s will, chasing the Jewish people from his lands and even asked for our God to bless him!

The first commandment God gave the Jewish people was to observe Passover by fasting and feasting, in remembrance of Him and what He did for them, which is still practiced today. The Passover feast of Jewish tradition contains many symbolic foods. Bitter herbs represent the suffering of the tribe as slaves, salt water is served for the tears shed during slavery, and a piece of lamb to remember God’s love and protection (after the destruction of the Temple, it was changed to a bone).

Fast forward about 1400 years, to first century Jerusalem.

Jesus was the firstborn Son of God, His only son.

He was pure and without blemish.

He was sacrificed in order to save us.

He died during Passover.

We have new symbols and rituals, which we perform in remembrance of Him and what He did for us. As He told His disciples during their last meal together before the Crucifixion, the wine was a symbol of the blood He would shed for us. The bread was a symbol of His body, which was beaten, sliced open, and then killed, slaughtered, for us.

Our new Passover feast is known as Holy Communion.

Our new fasting is known as Lent, during which we symbolically give up something dear and take up something difficult but worthy and follow Him.

During this season of Passover, as we partake of the Holy Sacrament, let’s reflect on the reason we do these things. Let us bear in our hearts how much love God has for us, his chosen people. Let us remember Jesus and His sacrifice. Let us eat of His body. Let us drink His blood. Let us be renewed in the knowledge that He did these things for us, so we might follow His example of love. Let us rededicate our lives to Christ, so we may glorify Him in all we do. Let us reflect, in our own feeble ways, the life He lived.

According to the Gospels, right before Jesus was arrested by the Romans, He begged God to take the cross from the path He was to walk, knowing it was the only way to teach us His final lessons. He knew how hard the next few days would be. At the end of that prayer, He chose to continue on that path anyway. He chose the hard stuff. He chose the cross, because it was God’s will.

We all face challenges, tests, and hardships. Let us bear our own symbolic crosses with the grace and dignity Jesus showed us when He took up the cross. Let us remember God is with us in everything we do, good and bad. Let us lean on Him. He will see us through anything and everything!

Prayer Focus

Those taking their first Holy Communion.

Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, who gave His only son so we might have a deep, personal relationship with You, we thank You for loving us. We thank You for showing us, in such a meaningful way, how You want us to live. We thank You for Your salvation through the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Final Thought

Jesus gave up everything for us. Let us be willing to give up everything for Him, according to His will.

A Life of Privilege

Princess and castle

Bible Passages

Read Psalm 145:1-6.

4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philipians 4:4-9 (NASB1995)

Devotion

I grew up in a life of privilege. I am proud, looking back, of the childhood I had. At the time, I took it all for granted. As a child, however, I didn’t fully appreciate how rich we were. Many times, I resented our circumstances. I just didn’t understand. I truly believed we were dirt poor.

My father was a country preacher. His assignments were primarily small churches struggling to keep the lights on and the bills paid. Attendance was dwindling. There were times we were given chickens, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and other food items to supplement, and sometimes instead of, pay. My mother often worked, usually as a teacher or an office assistant, to help ends meet. At times, my dad took another job so we could afford to serve God through his ministry. I often received hand-me-downs from relatives, church members, and friends of my parents. I resented the used clothing and toys. I didn’t realize then how blessed we were, and hated having to leave my friends (and once even my dog) behind as we moved on to the next church in need.

I thought we were paupers. Through faith in God, we always had enough money and resources to get by. I didn’t really appreciate it then. Looking back as an adult, I realize what a privileged life I had. I got to see first-hand how God takes care of his flock, and not just my immediate family. I got to witness miracles and blessings on a regular basis. I realize now how full my childhood was.

My father had the gift of faith healing. I took for granted that people were healed by faith. My parents were true believers in God’s miracles, and made believers out of me and my brother. I don’t remember a time we didn’t believe in miracles.

Early in my father’s ministry, a man’s arm was caught in a thrasher and severely mangled. It was so bad, they were planning to remove the arm once he was stable enough for surgery. Through prayer, the man regained full use of that arm, without surgery! Another man, a dear friend of his, was healed of cancer the day before he was scheduled to go for surgery. He visited my dad and they prayed about it. Later that afternoon, he called my dad and told him about the sudden sense of peace he felt. My dad told him to make them do another test for the cancer before they operated. No sign of cancer was found! To my knowledge, that was my dad’s final act of faith healing before he left this earth.

I had a sideline look at so many aspects of the human condition: birth, death, sickness of the body and sickness of the spirit, youth and old age, righteous and those on the wrong side of the law. I don’t know a lot of details, but I know my father and mother both prayed with people over the phone. I also know of the many times these situations were later followed up by a private “Praise God!” session, usually at the parsonage, which often included a cake or pie of gratitude. Now that I could appreciate!

I had regular injections of the teachings in the Bible. My brother reminded me recently that our parents rewarded us for learning the Bible. How many parents do that?

Both parents sang beautifully. We sang often and gladly, mostly hymns, as we traveled. I sang my first church solo sometime around age 2. As a member of the choir, I had built-in voice lessons. Piano and organ lessons would wait until my teen years, provided by the church organist.

While in elementary school, my father was called to further his education. We prayed hard as a family about it many times, then loaded the car with the bare essentials and moved to Colorado, the location of the seminary. This was the first time I witnessed a true and giant leap of faith. As it turns out, my father’s letter of acceptance was sitting on the Registrar’s desk, having just been signed by him mere moments before my dad showed up in his office. The Registrar was shocked and amazed. My dad simply told him God told him when and where to go. As I begin my own leap of faith, I think about their example of great courage, conviction and faith. I hope to live up to their example and to honor them in this way.

Although we never had many earthly riches, we were blessed by God so many times. Every time I hear the song, “Count Your Blessings,” I ask God if He wants me stop what I’m doing to count all my blessings, or does He want me to actually accomplish something today toward building His kingdom on Earth. Counting all my blessings would take up every second of every minute of every day of my life, and beyond. [I think even God is getting tired of that old joke.]

As I look back on my life, I now appreciate all the blessings and privileges He has brought into my life and the lives around me. I had so many extraordinary chances to witness what faith can do. Is it any wonder I am always amazed to meet someone who does not believe in miracles? In blessings? In Holy guidance? In God?

If we Christians truly understand what it means to be privileged, and give thanks and praise and trust to God, we begin to realize what a life of privilege we are all living, AND we will continue to live a life of privilege on this earth, until we move into a magnificent palace in heaven.

Prayer Focus

Families

Prayer

God of heaven, the Earth, and the universe, please be with those who need you most. Let me be an agent of hope and blessings for someone. Help me realize how blessed I am. Thank you for showing me Your love and compassion. Please give me the chance to show Your love and compassion to others. Amen.

Final Thought

Through Christ, we live a life of privilege.

Thank God First

Bible Passages

Read Luke 17:11-19.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.” – Psalm 9:1 (NASB1995)

Devotion

One of the first things we learn to say is, “Thank you.” One of the first things we forget to say is, “Thank you.” A simple two-word phrase, it goes a long way. Yet, we go about our day and forget to give thanks to the people whose thoughtful, little kindnesses make a difference in our day: the helpful store clerk, the smiling toll booth guard, the one who holds the door, or the random but needed hug, all deserve one word of encouragement and appreciation, “Thanks.”

Family is usually second among unthanked victims. Mom gets up early to make breakfast. Dad takes time to help with our homework. On that rare occasion when our siblings actually share their toys, their ice cream, or their secrets, we neglect to thank them.

The first victim is God. We don’t thank Him for allowing us to wake up today, for last night’s rest, the new day before us. We don’t sing His praises as we prepare for our day. We don’t thank Him for going out into the world with us. However, if we don’t start our day with God, we set ourselves up for something less than everything He wants for us for that day.

We need to start and end each day right, with praise and thanks to God. Try starting and ending your day with the Lord’s prayer, a joyful Psalm, a devotion like The Upper Room, or a Bible chapter. Smart devices have apps like YouVersion, in which you can request a specific or random Bible passage. Whatever you do to start your day with God, He will approve.

As His servants, talk to God first each morning. “Good morning, Lord. How may I serve You today? How can I be a blessing to someone today?” Then, listen. He might take a few minutes, a few hours, days. He does things on His schedule, not ours. Keep asking during the day. He will guide your heart. Small things will only be a brief tug. “Help that lady carry all that stuff.” “Wait here a minute.” “Drive home by the back roads.” Those things come quickly and are easy when you listen. Those are the small ways we honor God, not always knowing why or the result.

The big things, for me at least, often take more than one nudge. Sometimes, He has to work to get my attention. In times like that, He allows situations that seem dire at first glance. When I pray about it, He lets me know He wants my attention. When I finally hear Him, He opens the door He wants me to take. As I step through, I realize I am traveling the path He set for me. Things start turning around. The dire situation becomes an opportunity to glorify God. When I take His path, everything falls into place again. It doesn’t always happen immediately, but it does always happen.

That’s the most important time to thank the Lord, just as with the ten lepers. When He shows us His love or the next step in our journey, we need to praise Him, thank Him, and go out of our way to make sure what we do glorifies God in as many ways as we can. Let everyone know your success comes from God. Sing his praises with every breath. When we do, the joy is overwhelming and contagious!

Then, at the end of the day, make sure He is the last thing on your mind before you go to sleep. Give Him your concerns, thank Him for a great day and the blessings and challenges, and for granting the rest you need. When you do this, you will rest completely and worry-free. It might take some practice, as it has with me, and some nights will be harder to do this than others.

That’s okay with God. He knows we’re not perfect but He loves us anyway, and wraps us in His perfect love, then sets His angels to watch over us. As the saying goes, “Give it to God and go to sleep.”

Prayer Focus

Those who have forgotten to thank God, even in small things.

Prayer

Lord God our Father Almighty, thank You for nurturing us, guiding us, and helping us grow into the people You want us to be. Help us to remember to thank You in good times, in bad times, and in the in-between times. Remind us to give You the glory You deserve. Remind us to put your first and last in all things. Amen.

Final Thought

Start and end your day with God.