Category: Relationship

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Knowing What’s Ahead

How many times do we wish we could know our future? What will happen next week, next month, next year? If we only knew…

Jesus knew.

He had preached a message that He was the Good Shepherd and like a good shepherd He would give His life for the sheep. He boldly proclaimed, “I am the Son of God”. Some people believed Him but most wanted to arrest Him and have Him killed. (John 10)

Jesus knew what was ahead. He separated Himself and His disciples.

A few days later He received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. He stayed where He was another two days. He knew what would happen.

Lazarus died. He went to Bethany and He knew that He would perform another miracle. He would raise Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead for four days. This miracle sealed Jesus fate. The religious elite were determined to have Him killed.

“ From that day on, the council started making plans to put Jesus to death. 54 Because of this plot against him, Jesus stopped going around in public. He went to the town of Ephraim, which was near the desert, and he stayed there with his disciples.” John 11:53-54 CEV

Jesus knew. It was almost Passover and people were asking if Jesus would come.

“The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, ‘Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!'” John 12:12-13 NLT

This incident has become known as Palm Sunday. The day we celebrate today!

“Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.” Psalm 118:25 NLT

Jesus knew. He also knew this would lead to His arrest, mock trial, beating and crucifixion. He knew.

So why did He put Himself through all of this?

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” II Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Jesus knew the Father’s plan and He submitted to it willingly.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3 ERV

He knew and He endured the cruelty because He also knew that joy that was waiting for Him.

Jesus knew that His obedience of suffering for sin would keep us from having to pay that price!

Now we can look ahead and see that we have been made right with God and our future is glorious!

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What a Difference a Day Makes

Yesterday morning the sun was shining, the birds were singing and people were out enjoying a morning walk. I don’t know what they had planned for this morning but no one’s out, even the birds are holed up and the wind is blowing pretty hard.

Physically there is a difference in this day. Just as quickly as the wind comes in, emotionally and circumstantially our days can change. Things aren’t quite how we planned.

You ever have one of those mornings when you get up and wonder what the day will have in store? You’re wondering if it will be bright and sunny or you will have the strength to face it? Will you have the answer for the day’s questions or are you in need of help?

A very real part of our relationship with the Lord is knowing that His mercy is new every morning and that He has promised to never abandon us. When we get up each morning do we thank the Father for His mighty acts; for His strength, peace, joy and His abundant wisdom? Or do we complain about our circumstances?

It’s not all about me – it certainly is all about Him! So focus…

“Praise the Lord, because he is good! His faithful love will last forever! 2 Everyone the Lord has saved should repeat that word of thanks. Praise him, all who have been rescued from the enemy.” Psalm 107:1-2 ERV

“Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 9 He satisfies those who are thirsty. He fills those who are hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9 ERV

“He gave the command and healed them, so they were saved from the grave. 21 Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 22 Offer sacrifices of thanks to him. Sing with joy about all that he has done.” Psalm 107:20-22 ERV

“Whoever is wise will remember these things and begin to understand the Lord’s faithful love.” Psalm 107:43 ERV

Starting the day with praise, makes an indelible difference. Throughout the day take “Praise Breaks”. Praise reminds us of the Lord’s faithful love and all He has done!

What a difference praise makes in our day!

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Hope & Victory

I know we’re still a week away from celebrating Easter but the heart of everyone who has chosen to put their faith in Christ celebrates His resurrection each and every day.

We serve a risen Savior – He lives!

This morning I am sitting here quietly and again I’m thinking of the first Easter morning. Thinking what it must have been like when Mary ran to the tomb and found it empty.

She was heartbroken, thinking that someone had stolen Jesus body. And then it happened – she heard her name.

“Jesus asked her, ‘Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’

She thought he was the gardener and said, ‘Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.’

16 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’

She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni.’ The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.” John 20:15-16 CEV

I’ve thought of that so many times,. What must it have been like to hear Jesus speak her name? In her heartache, He was there!

In my heartache, He is here. In my joy, He is here! In my day to day moments He is here and when I’m quiet, I can hear Him speak my name.

So I gladly declare to all this morning

“The angel said to the women, ‘Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. 6 He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. 7 Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee.'” Matthew 28:5-7 CEV

He is risen as He said! He lives within my heart. Hallelujah!

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The Gift of Grace

Yesterday I shared with you on mercy. Today I want you to see grace, love in action.

Some teach that if we are “good christians” we will never face the hard things in life. But that just isn’t true. All we have to do is look at Jesus – He was maligned, misunderstood, hated and crucified.

The Apostle Paul said that he was being buffeted (harassed) by a “messenger of Satan” and that He had asked the Lord three times to deliver him. I’ve heard it said that God basically told him to “buck up”. But I don’t see it that way at all. I see God’s response to Paul as one of victory and deliverance – making him an overcomer and more than a conqueror. You read and you decide.

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” II Corinthians 12:8-10 KJV

Now for the Complete Jewish Bible

“Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; 9 but he told me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.” Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me. 10 Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:8-10 CJB

Christ was the strongest when He hung on the cross and cried out “Father, forgive them”. Grace is giving others something they don’t deserve – mercy, that we saw yesterday, is not giving others something they do deserve.

Jesus, in His most painful moments, forgave the thief hanging next to Him on the cross. Paul was stoned and left for dead one day and got up and walk to the neighboring town the next day to preach the gospel. He lived out what God had said.

“My grace is sufficient. My power is made perfect in weakness”.

Now, let’s look at grace and mercy together.

“ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

Thank you Father for your grace being sufficient for me. It gives me YOUR strength for my weakness. Grace is God’s love in action!

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Mercy Rewrites the Story

Time this morning for another old song.

Mercy rewrote my life. Mercy rewrote my life. I should have fallen, my soul cast down but mercy rewrote my life.

Each year as we get closer to celebrating the resurrection of our Savior, and our Lord, my heart is drawn to focus on His mercy and sacrifice on our behalf.

Mercy: (I want this word to become engrained in your heart)

from Merriam Webster dictionary

1 a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment

2 a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion

3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress

Compassion shown to an offender. The focal point of the Tabernacle was the mercy seat. The focal point of God’s relationship to man is mercy!

Can you imagine being tasked with the responsibility for crafting the items used in the Tabernacle?

“Bezalel built a chest of acacia wood forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. 2 He covered it inside and out with pure gold and put a gold edging around the top…6 The entire lid of the chest, which was also covered with pure gold, was the place of mercy.” Exodus 37:1-6 CEV

This chest was the ark of the covenant – this ark was a sign of God’s presence and here in God’s presence was the place to find mercy!

Why do we so often run from God when we sin? The Father’s heart is that we run to Him, run to Him for mercy and for help, run to Him for forgiveness and restoration.

The high priest could only enter the Holy of Holies and offer the blood sacrifice once a year to the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat. But no more!

Jesus became our high priest, and He offered His own shed blood for the forgiveness of sins and we have been forever cleansed! Hallelujah!

“11 Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that wasn’t made by humans and that doesn’t belong to this world. 12 Then Christ went once for all into the most holy place and freed us from sin forever. He did this by offering his own blood instead of the blood of goats and bulls.” Hebrews 9:11-12 CEV

I heard mercy described like this once.

We are taken to court with a long list of charges (sin) against us. The prosecutor (satan) stands before the judge (the Father) and declares that we are guilty. The defense attorney (Jesus) stands before the judge and says “My client throws himself on the mercy of the court, Your Honor.”

The judge then says” I will grant your plea for mercy however someone has to pay the penalty”. Then the defense attorney, Jesus, steps forward and says “I will pay the penalty Your Honor. Let my client go and take Me in His place. (grace)”

Mercy: not receiving the penalty we deserve

Grace: receiving release or forgiveness that we don’t deserve

Thank you Father for your mercy and your grace! Your mercy rewrote my life’s story!

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Let’s Be Honest

All I wanted to do this morning was have my coffee and go back to bed. I didn’t want to read my Bible and I only wanted to spend a little time praying. I’m tired, had a restless night and really no motivation for the day.

I looked over at my side table as I was putting my coffee cup down and focused on the beautiful orchid that was beginning to bloom. I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to be diligent. “Just read a little, Let Me do the rest. Let me water and nourish you as you have done with that orchid for the last year”.

Alright Lord. Water me. And He did!

“This is what the Lord Who made you, Who put you together before you were born, Who will help you, says, ‘Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land and rivers on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your children, and will bring good to your children’s children. 4 They will grow like grass in the fields, and like poplar trees by the rivers.’” Isaiah 44:2-4 NLV

So many times, we think we have to have great revelation to be growing in Christ. If I don’t read massive amounts of Scripture and spend long hours in prayer, I’m not pleasing God and doing what He wants. But that’s not true.

Like my orchid, which I didn’t even know that I would be able to keep alive, it’s consistency. You see, every Friday for the last year I have put 6 small ice cubes on the soil in the pot. That has been enough to consistently water my plant. I’ve kept it on the table where it receives good sunlight and without any more effort from me it’s blooming.

The consistency of God’s word waters our lives and the light of the Son provides the warmth we need to grow and bloom.

“ I remember the days long ago. I think about all You have done. I think about the work of Your hands. 6 I put out my hands to You. My soul is thirsty for You like a dry land.

7 Hurry to answer me, O Lord! My spirit is becoming weak! Do not hide Your face from me, or I will become like those who go down to the grave. 8 Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way I should go for I lift up my soul to You. 9 O Lord, take me away from those who hate me. I run to You to be safe.

10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a straight path. 11 Give me new life, O Lord, because of Your name. Bring me out of trouble because You are right and good.” Psalm 143:5-10 NLV

When we have a thirsty soul, the Lord brings refreshing and with refreshing comes new life.

Now, let’s go out and show the world the beautiful blooms God has created in our lives.

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Hot & Tired

I was reading in John 7 this morning where Jesus is talking to the people about living water.

” On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! 38  Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.” 39 Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to anyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory.” John 7:37-39 CEV

Those words “If you are thirsty, come and drink” brought back a vivid memory.

Dave and I were farming alfalfa in the Arizona desert south of Phoenix. The hay balers were used weren’t the ones that produced the big round bales. Instead, they were Freeman balers that produced the smaller, rectangle bales, each weighing about 110 pounds.

In Arizona, we bale at night once the dew comes in and has an opportunity to moisten the alfalfa a little before baling. Well, because it was night we hadn’t seen there had been a malfunction of the bale chute and so the bales dropped off the baler and landed on their sides.

In the morning, we had to go out and set the bales up right so they could be picked up by the road sider, a piece of equipment that made the bales in a tight stack. It was summer, the sun was hot and I was walking from field to field setting the bales while Dave had other work to do.

I didn’t realize until it was too late that he had driven off with the water. I was so hot and thirsty when he returned. I was parched.

Water. Life-giving water!

I’ve also had times when my soul and my spirit has been parched. So tired and stressed that all the tears had been cried. Feeling that there was no emotion left. Hopeless.

Have you been there?

This is what Jesus is referring too. Dry in body, soul and spirit. In need of life-giving water. That water, that refreshing comes from the Holy Spirit. He brings strength from heaven’s throne.

“But I tell you I am going to do what is best for you. This is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.” John 16:7 CEV

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

“Your body will always be dead because of sin. But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God.” Romans 8:10 ERV

That dry, parched, thirsty feeling will be quenched when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with living water.

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Up for a Chariot Ride?

Are you looking to be set-up by God today? You know, those “chance” meetings, wondering about people you used to be close with, just being in the right place at the right time.

God’s set-ups!

Philip was open to God using him. When Saul started persecuting the Chrisitans in Jerusalem, Philip went to Samaria to preach there. Then one day the Lord told him to go south of Jerusalem on the road to Gaza. Philip obeyed.

There he met a high official in Egypt’s political system. The man was reading the book of Isaiah but didn’t really understand what he was reading.

“The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ 30 So he went toward the chariot, and he heard the man reading from Isaiah the prophet. Philip asked him, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’

31 The man answered, ‘How can I understand? I need someone to explain it to me.’ Then he invited Philip to climb in and sit with him… The official said to Philip, ‘Please, tell me, who is the prophet talking about? Is he talking about himself or about someone else?’ 35 Philip began to speak. He started with this same Scripture and told the man the Good News about Jesus.” Acts 8:29-35 ERV

There are people all around us waiting for someone to be their Philip. We need to slow down from our own demanding schedules and allow the Lord to direct us to them.

It might be as simple as giving someone a smile and a God bless you. It might be asking someone how they are doing and really listening to their answer. Philip was listening, he heard the man and then he asked a question.

It’s the Father’s job to prepare hearts but it’s our job to be prepared to be obedient when He calls on us.

“Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.” I Peter 3:15 CEV

” I pray God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.” Hebrews 13:21 CEV

Are any of you praying for the Lord to send someone to minister to your children or a dear friend? What if that person is too busy? Maybe we are the answer to someone’s prayer? Are we ready?

When we take time to listen to the Father, we will be the answer to someone’s prayer! It may involve a ride in a chariot.

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Oh Eeyore!

The Lord is still impressing me to stay on this subject of looking up. Maybe it’s not for you but maybe for someone close to you.

Do you ever have one of those days when you just feel down and you don’t know why? I am glad to say that really doesn’t happen much in my life but it used too. It was a real battle to stay “up” and see the blessings that surrounded me.

About 30 years ago the Lord began to use the characters in the Winnie the Pooh stories to help me identify people according to their personalities. Our son is definitely a Tigger; our oldest daughter is Rabbit; our youngest is Pooh; my husband is Owl and I’m, well, I’m Kanga. You get the picture. But then there are those who are Eeyore’s – always gloomy. An Eeyore is always walking around with their head down, eyes down, looking for the worst and finding it. Eeyore needs to change his focus – he needs to look up and consider Someone bigger than himself.

This morning, I really felt the Lord wanted me to share Psalm 42 with you and as I read it, I thought, “Lord, did I hear you right? This is a good Psalm but what does it have to do with “looking up”, with keeping our focus on you?” And there it was!! You can always trust God.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Psalm 42:5

Why are we cast down, o my soul? Why is our focus downward and not looking up? Why are we discouraged? We aren’t putting our hope in God, we aren’t looking up. When we do, we will praise God and praising God will improve our countenance – both our inward and external appearance. God always knows what He’s talking about.

So, consider our soul today and ask it this question – are we looking up? Hope in God!

“As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water, I truly am thirsty for you, my God…5 Why am I discouraged? (Why are you cast down) Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again because you help me, 6 and you are my God. I am deeply discouraged (I am cast down) as I think about you from where the Jordan begins at Mount Hermon and from Mount Mizar. 7 Your vicious waves have swept over me like an angry ocean or a roaring waterfall. 8 Every day, you are kind, and at night you give me a song as my prayer to you, the living LORD God. 9 You are my mighty rock. Why have you forgotten me? Why must enemies mistreat me and make me sad? 10 Even my bones are in pain, while all day long my enemies sneer and ask, “Where is your God?” 11 Why am I discouraged? (Why are you cast down) Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God.” Psalm 42 CEV

There is no condemnation in being discouraged. We can be honest with ourselves and with God. He can handle it. But don’t let discouragement rule! Praise the Lord again and again – He is our help!

Stay thirsty for the Lord!

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Keep Looking Up

Yes, one more message on looking up! Why? Because that’s what the Lord said for me to do. This is a message I’ve shared before, but it bears repeating.

I want to draw your attention to a time when Jesus “looked up”. Jesus had left the area of Judea just days earlier because the Pharisees were trying to kill him. And now he learned that his dear friend Lazarus was very sick. He told his disciples that they needed to return to Bethany and they reminded him that the people in that area were against him.

Jesus waited a couple more days and then he told the disciples we MUST go to Bethany, Lazarus is dead. When Jesus arrived he learned that Lazarus had already been in the grave four days. Martha came out to meet Jesus and told him if Jesus had been there she knew her brother would not be dead.

So, do you get the picture? Jesus is grieving over the death of his dear friend. He is just a two mile walk from a town where a mob had tried to kill him just a few days ago and now his friend’s sister is blaming him for her brother’s death. WOW!

The story goes on from there. Lazarus’ other sister, Mary, and the mourners came to where Jesus is. Mary falls at Jesus’ feet and says the same thing, “If you had been here my brother wouldn’t have died.” And now comes the shortest verse in the Bible – Jesus wept.

I think he wept because he felt the grief of the loss of a friend; I think he wept because he was being blamed for that death; I think he wept because the people around him had no faith and hope. But he wept. And then he did something that we all need to do – He looked UP!

“Jesus was still terribly upset.,, 41 After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, ‘Father, I thank you for answering my prayer. 42 I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me.” John 11:38-42 CEV

He looked up to the Father – he reminded Himself that God the Father had not abandon Him and that even in His grief, the Father was there to bring victory to the situation. He looked up and he thanked the Father for answered prayer. He knew the purpose of all of this was that the people would believe!

His words, “Lazarus, come forth” brought the power of God to the situation and Lazarus came walking out of the tomb! Awesome!

A kind and loving God brought an end to grieving and despair. He brought life to Lazarus and life to the hope and faith of the people who were there. He can and will still do the same today.

What is it in your life that is dead and needs to be resurrected? Your hope? Your faith? Your health? Your marriage? Your joy? Your finances? What???

Look up to the one who has life giving power – look up and thank Him for resurrection and then be bold like Jesus and call it forth from the grave. You notice Jesus didn’t agree with the things that Mary, Martha and the people were saying.

He was focused on looking up – we need to do the same!

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