Apr 27 Your attention, Your abundance

O Jesus, it is so hard to read of the awful beatings and the terrible crucifixion You endured.  I cannot even imagine the pain You suffered and the overwhelming agony.

So many called for Your death.  Yet You called out for their forgiveness. And even as You were dying on the cross, You were not too busy to listen to the petition of one of Your hurting children: the man on the cross next to You.

You gave him Your attention. And then You gave him Your abundance.  Over and above.

He asked only that You remember him, and You gave him paradise.

You are like that with me. 

You hold the whole world together by Your power: the earth, the stars, the solar system.  The motion of the seas is in Your hand, every storm, every person on the earth, even a sparrow does not fall without Your awareness.  Yet You are never too busy to hear my cry, my prayer, my thanks.

You give me Your attention.  And You always give more than I ask.

Your mercy and grace overflows.  Your lavish abundance is so great.  Many times I ask for something and You blow me away with Your grace and generosity.

And even when the answer is no, or wait, I can trust that You have my best in mind.  Thank You for knowing even better than I, what I need.  And for providing it.

The thief said “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.”

It’s the same with me.  My deeds deserve death.   Only Your blood pays the penalty for my sin, and awards me life, not death.

Thank You for enduring death on a cross, so that I can walk with You in eternity.  Thank You Father, for paradise.   Amen

Luke 23:32-43

Mar 11 From Beginning to End

Thank You Lord, is not enough to say to You, for enduring such a horrible crucifixion and death so that I could be reunited and reconciled, into fellowship with You.  Thank You that the precious blood You shed washes away my sin and pays the penalty my sin deserves.

I cannot begin to imagine the horror of all You felt and went through.  Movies that depict it are difficult to watch and fill me with sorrow and shame, that it was for my sin You chose to go through it all.

It boggles my mind, that this was planned before the foundation of the world!  You already knew what would happen with sin being a part of the world You created, and what it would take to make it right again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they died spiritually, as they were separated from Your presence.  And eventually died physically.  They continued in sin, as did all man for centuries, and a system of shedding innocent blood and making offerings was instituted. 

In the desert when Korah sinned against You and rebelled, You swallowed him up in the earth with his followers.  Yet sin continued. As did sacrifices as a way to enter Your presence, first in the Tabernacle, then the Temple.

In the fulfillment of Your prophecies, You came to the earth as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the perfect, innocent Lamb of God and became the ultimate sacrifice, laying down Your life once for all – all the sin, all the people, for all time.  Yet all have not accepted that gift.

One day Your world will be free of sin again as You judge all the living and the dead – even the angels – and create a new heaven and a new earth.

You will have delivered Your people from all trouble, and will look triumphantly upon all Your foes.  They will be brought down to eternal death, separated from You for all eternity. And Your people will live with You forever.

I am eternally blessed to be Your child.  Thank You.  Amen

Numbers 16:1-40; Mark 15:12-38; Psalm 54:7

May 31 A Sure Thing

Once again, Father, You have proven Yourself, as the events unfolded exactly as You prophesied they would.

The manner of Your death on the cross, how Your clothes were divided, that Your bones were not broken, that Your side was pierced; all these things happened according to what You had already told us in Your Word.  Yet the people who carried out these atrocious acts were not aware of the prophecies, or that they were fulfilling them.

These words were handed down to different prophets at different times, yet all came to pass.  It’s no wonder I can say with the writer of Psalm 119, “I have put my hope in Your Word!”

This is not a simple unfounded hope like “I hope I win the lottery.”  The Hebrew word translated as hope is “tiqvah.”

It comes from the word used for the triple twisted rope that binds an anchor to a ship to keep it in place.  It’s a sure thing.  It can be counted on.

My hope in You is a sure thing, Lord.  It is something I can count on, always.  It anchors me in the water.  It keeps me from drifting in a storm.

That means I can count on You in my day to day life circumstances, good or bad.  And I can rely on You when things get really tough.  Thousands of years haven’t changed Your faithfulness or trustworthiness. 

You have been, You still are, and You always will be.

Your Word has stood the test of time and its prophecies are still coming true.  I can trust You, and Your Word, and its power in my life, completely.  In all situations, at all times.  And I do!

Thank You for this wonderful gift of hope that gives me stability in my daily life, and keeps me anchored.  Amen

John 19:23-37; Psalm 119:145-152

May 31 A Sure Thing

Once again, Father, You have proven Yourself, as the events unfolded exactly as You prophesied they would.

The manner of Your death on the cross, how Your clothes were divided, that Your bones were not broken, that Your side was pierced; all these things happened according to what You had already told us in Your Word.  Yet the people who carried out these atrocious acts were not aware of the prophecies, or that they were fulfilling them.

These words were handed down to different prophets at different times, yet all came to pass.  It’s no wonder I can say with the writer of Psalm 119, “I have put my hope in Your Word!”

This is not a simple unfounded hope like “I hope I win the lottery.”  The Hebrew word translated as hope is “tiqvah.”  It comes from the word used for the triple twisted rope that binds an anchor to a ship to keep it in place.  It’s a sure thing.  It can be counted on.

My hope in You is a sure thing, Lord.  It is something I can count on, always.  It anchors me in the water.  It keeps me from drifting in a storm.

That means I can count on You in my day to day life circumstances, good or bad.  And I can rely on You when things get really tough.  Thousands of years haven’t changed Your faithfulness or trustworthiness.

You have been, You still are, and You always will be.

Your Word has stood the test of time and its prophecies are still coming true.  I can trust You, and Your Word, and its power in my life, completely.  In all situations, at all times.  And I do!

Thank You for this wonderful gift of hope that gives me stability in my daily life, and keeps me anchored.  Amen

John 19:23-37; Psalm 119:145-152

Apr 27 Your attention, Your abundance

O Jesus.  How hard it is to read of the awful beatings, the unfair treatment and the terrible crucifixion You endured.  I cannot even imagine the pain You suffered and the overwhelming agony.

So many around You were unsympathetic and called for Your death.  Yet even in the midst of all this, You were concerned with others.

When they crucified You, You called out for their forgiveness.  And even as You were dying, You were not too busy to listen to the petition of one of Your hurting children, the man on the cross next to You.

He asked only that You remember him, and You gave him paradise.

Father, You are like that with me.

You hold the whole world together by Your power: the earth, the stars, the solar system.  The motion of the seas is in Your hand, every storm, every person on the earth, not even a sparrow falls without Your awareness.  Yet You are never too busy to hear my cry, my prayer, my thanks.

Thank You, that I can come to You at any time and have Your attention.

And You always give more than You are asked.

The thief asked for remembrance, You gave him paradise.

Your mercy and grace overflows.  Your lavish abundance is so great.  Many times I ask for something and You blow me away with Your generosity and graciousness.

And even when the answer is no, or wait, I can trust that You have my best in mind.  Thank You for knowing even better than I, what I need.  And for providing it.

The thief said “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.”  It is the same with me.  My deeds deserve death.   Only Your blood pays the penalty for my sin, and awards me life, not death.

Thank You for enduring death on a cross, so that I can walk with You in eternity.  Thank You Father, for paradise.   Amen

Luke 23:25-43

 

Apr 27 Your attention, Your abundance

O Jesus. How hard it is to read of the awful beatings, the unfair treatment and the terrible crucifixion You endured. I cannot even imagine the pain You suffered and the overwhelming agony. So many around You were unsympathetic and called for Your death. Yet even in the midst of all this, You were concerned with others.

When they crucified You, You called out for their forgiveness. And even as You were dying, You were not too busy to listen to the petition of one of Your hurting children, the man on the cross next to You. He asked only that You remember him, and You gave him paradise.

Father, You are like that with me. You hold the whole world together by Your power: the earth, the stars, the solar system. The motion of the seas is in Your hand, every storm, every person on the earth, not even a sparrow falls without Your awareness. Yet You are never too busy to hear my cry, my prayer, my thanks. Thank You, that I can come to You at any time and have Your attention.

And You always give more than You are asked. The thief asked for remembrance, You gave him paradise. Your mercy and grace overflows. Your lavish abundance is so great. Many times I ask for something and You blow me away with Your generosity and graciousness. And even when the answer is no, or wait, I can trust that You have my best in mind. Thank You for knowing even better than I, what I need. And for providing it.

The thief said “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” It is the same with me. My deeds deserve death.   Only Your blood pays the penalty for my sin, and awards me life, not death.

Thank You for enduring death on a cross, so that I can walk with You in eternity. Thank You Father, for paradise.   Amen

Luke 23:25-43

 

Apr 27 Your attention, Your abundance

O Jesus. How hard it is to read of the awful beatings, the unfair treatment and the terrible crucifixion You endured. I cannot even imagine the pain You suffered and the overwhelming agony. So many around You were unsympathetic and called for Your death. Yet even in the midst of all this, You were concerned with others.

When they crucified You, You called out for their forgiveness. And even as You were dying, You were not too busy to listen to the petition of one of Your hurting children.   The man on the cross next to You asked that You remember him, and You gave him paradise.

Father, You are like that with me. You hold the whole world together by Your power: the earth, the stars, the solar system. The motion of the seas is in Your hand, every storm, every person on the earth, not even a sparrow falls without Your awareness. Yet You are never too busy to hear my cry, my prayer, my thanks. Thank You, that I can come to You at any time and have Your attention.

And You always give more than You are asked. The thief asked for remembrance, You gave him paradise. Your mercy and grace overflows. Your lavish abundance is so great. Many times I ask for something and You blow me away with Your generosity and graciousness. And even when the answer is no, or wait, I can trust that You have my best in mind. Thank You for knowing even better than I, what I need. And for providing it.

The thief said “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” It is the same with me. My deeds deserve death.   Only Your blood pays the penalty for my sin, and awards me life, not death.

Thank You for enduring death on a cross, so that I can walk with You in eternity. Thank You Father, for paradise.   Amen

Luke 23:13-43