Jan 22 What was dead is alive!

Holy Father, I cannot even imagine the depth of joy Israel must have felt at the realization that Joseph, the son he thought he had lost forever, was alive!

I cannot imagine grieving for a son for so long, dealing with a sense of loss so great that it makes you physically ill and emotionally destitute; then to discover that the object of your intense love and devotion has been resurrected and returned to you!

But You are a God of resurrection miracles!

You are the One with the power of restoration! And there will be another great reunion as we see all our loved ones who love You, again, when we spend eternity together in Your presence.

It must have seemed like a miracle to Israel: Your bringing the son that was dead to him, back into fellowship and life. How awesome is Your power!

You are not limited by what we have come to understand are the limits and laws of our physical world.

You walked on water!

You healed the sick and dying with a touch!

You multiplied five pieces of bread and two fish to feed literally thousands of hungry people!

And that was only during the first twenty-four hours after hearing of Your own personal loss: the death of Your cousin, John the Baptist.

Twice during that time, you withdrew to be alone to pray. How hard it must have been to remain in this physical world with all its pain and grief, suffering, sickness and evil, knowing Your true home was in heaven. You could have left it all behind in an instant.

Thank You for continuing to walk the path that would lead to Your sacrifice and the saving of mankind; rejoining us to Yourself, our heavenly Father, bridging the chasm between our sinfulness and Your holiness.

Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty!

Genesis 44:18-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36

June 1 Doubt? or Believe?

“Stop doubting and believe.”

Often I have heard that people think being a Christian means checking your brain at the door and believing in something blindly.   But Jesus, here You give me an example of just the opposite.

You say to Thomas (who has been forever since called “Doubting Thomas”) to “stop doubting and believe.”  But You were not just a voice in the dark asking him to believe blindly.  You were standing right in front of him.  You were offering to let him see and touch and feel what was real.  You provided proof for his faith.

But it is often the same with me.  I can be stubborn in my reluctance to go forward out of fear of failure or embarrassment or things not working out; even when You are standing in front of me.   You can offer proof to me because You see things I can’t.  You already know how things will work out.

Lord, help me take the steps You direct me to take, in boldness.  Don’t let me be frozen by fear, or hesitate in half-heartedness.  Do not let me doubt Your Word or Your leading.  Remind me of Your faithfulness to me in the past.

As You breathed the Holy Spirit on Your disciples, breath a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit on me.  Let me be empowered anew by You living in me.

As Thomas responded with belief, it seems he should be known as “Believing Thomas.”  But I think more people can relate to his position before he saw You.  So it’s a good lesson for everyone.

Thank You for showing me that I need not doubt.  Help me be bold, in belief.  Amen

John 20:19-29

Jan 22 What was dead is alive!

Holy Father, I cannot even imagine the depth of joy Israel must have felt at the realization that the son he thought he had lost forever, was alive!

I cannot imagine grieving for a son for so long, dealing with a sense of loss so great that it makes you physically ill and emotionally destitute; then to discover that the object of your intense love and devotion has been resurrected and returned to you!

But You are a God of resurrection miracles!

You are the One with the power of restoration! And there will be another great reunion as we see all our loved ones who love You, again, when we spend eternity together in Your presence.

It must have seemed like a miracle to Israel: Your bringing the son that was dead to him, back into fellowship and life. How awesome is Your power!

You are not limited by what we have come to understand are the limits and laws of our physical world.

You walked on water!

You healed the sick and dying with a touch!

You multiplied five pieces of bread and two fish to feed literally thousands of hungry people!

And that was only during the first twenty-four hours after hearing of Your own personal loss: the death of Your cousin, John the Baptist.

Twice during that time, you withdrew to be alone to pray. How hard it must have been to remain in this physical world with all its pain and grief, suffering, sickness and evil, knowing Your true home was in heaven. You could have left it all behind in an instant.

Thank You for continuing to walk the path that would lead to Your sacrifice and the saving of mankind; rejoining us to Yourself, our heavenly Father, bridging the chasm between our sinfulness and Your holiness.

Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty!

Genesis 44:18-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36

June 1 Doubt? or Believe!

“Stop doubting and believe.”

Often I have heard that people think being a Christian means checking your brain at the door and believing in something blindly.   But Jesus, here You give me an example of just the opposite.

You say to Thomas (who has been forever since called “Doubting Thomas”) to “stop doubting and believe.”  But You were not just a voice in the dark asking him to believe blindly.  You were standing right in front of him.  You were offering to let him see and touch and feel what was real.  You provided proof for his faith.

But it is often the same with me.  I can be stubborn in my reluctance to go forward out of fear of failure or embarrassment or things not working out; even when You are standing in front of me.   You can offer proof to me because You see things I can’t.  You already know how things will work out.

Lord, help me take the steps You direct me to take, in boldness.  Don’t let me be frozen by fear, or hesitate in half-heartedness.  Do not let me doubt Your Word or Your leading.  Remind me of Your faithfulness to me in the past.

As You breathed the Holy Spirit on Your disciples, breath a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit on me.  Let me be empowered anew by You living in me.

As Thomas responded with belief, it seems he should be known as “Believing Thomas.”  But I think more people can relate to his position before he saw You.  So it’s a good lesson for everyone.

Thank You for showing me that I need not doubt.  Help me be bold, in belief.  Amen

John 20:19-29

Jan 22 What was dead is alive!

Holy Father, I cannot even imagine the depth of joy Israel must have felt at the realization that the son he thought he had lost forever, was alive!

I cannot imagine grieving for a son for so long, dealing with a sense of loss so great that it makes you physically ill and emotionally destitute; then to discover that the object of your intense love and devotion has been resurrected and returned to you!

But You are a God of resurrection miracles! You are the One with the power of restoration! And there will be another great reunion as we see all our loved ones who love You, again, when we spend eternity together in Your presence.

It must have seemed like a miracle to Israel: Your bringing the son that was dead to him, back into fellowship and life. How awesome is Your power!

You are not limited by what we have come to understand are the limits and laws of our physical world.

You walked on water!
You healed the sick and dying with a touch!
You multiplied five pieces of bread and two fish to feed literally thousands of hungry people!

And that was only during the first twenty-four hours after hearing of Your own personal loss: the death of Your cousin, John the Baptist.

Twice during that time, you withdrew to be alone to pray. How hard it must have been to remain in this physical world with all its pain and grief, suffering, sickness and evil, knowing Your true home was in heaven. You could have left it all behind in an instant.

Thank You for continuing to walk the path that would lead to Your sacrifice and the saving of mankind; rejoining us to Yourself, our heavenly Father, bridging the chasm between our sinfulness and Your holiness.

Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty!

Genesis 44:18-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36

June 1 Doubt? or Believe!

“Stop doubting and believe.”

Often I have heard that people think being a Christian means checking your brain at the door and believing in something blindly.   But Jesus, here You give me an example of just the opposite.

You say to Thomas (who has been forever since called “Doubting Thomas”) to “stop doubting and believe.”  But You were not just a voice in the dark asking him to believe blindly.  You were standing right in front of him.  You were offering to let him see and touch and feel what was real.  You provided proof for his faith.

But it is often the same with me.  I can be stubborn in my reluctance to go forward out of fear of failure or embarrassment or things not working out; even when You are standing in front of me.   You can offer proof to me because You see things I can’t.  You already know how things will work out.

Lord, help me take the steps You direct me to take, in boldness.  Don’t let me be frozen by fear, or hesitate in half-heartedness.  Do not let me doubt Your Word or Your leading.  Remind me of Your faithfulness to me in the past.

As You breathed the Holy Spirit on Your disciples, breath a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit on me.  Let me be empowered anew by You living in me.

As Thomas responded with belief, it seems he should be known as “Believing Thomas.”  But I think more people can relate to his position before he saw You.  So it’s a good lesson for everyone.

Thank You for showing me that I need not doubt.  Help me be bold, in belief.  Amen

John 20:19-29  

Aug 24 Raised Indestructible

“Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow he does not endure.

“Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.  You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of years is as nothing before You.  Each man’s life is but a breath.” 

Lord, today is the anniversary of my grandmother’s death.  Family funerals seem to abound, with my own father’s passing still fresh in my memory. A dear friend and mentor who battled cancer three times is now with You as well.  And a year ago today I received my own personal “wake up call” diagnosis.

All around me is the evidence of how fragile life is.  How quickly it passes.  I often that the days sometimes drag on, but the years fly by.   I thought the days of changing diapers and wiping faces would never end.  Now in their thirties, I wonder how my children got to be so grown; how I got to be so old.

“But now Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in You.”  

I have confidence that because of Your power, authority, and sovereignty, no one, not any power or circumstance, can take away even a single minute of life that has been ordained by You.  “Man’s days are determined; You have decreed the number of his months and have set the limits he cannot exceed.”

Father, I know there are many things I cannot grasp while here on earth.  But I love the picture You give us of resurrection.

When I plant a seed in the ground, it doesn’t look like what will come up.  A tomato seed does not look like a tomato or the plant it grows on.  Neither does a pumpkin seed, or a carrot seed, or an apple seed, or a peach pit.  So my earthly body is like the seed.  And my heavenly body is like the plant that springs from it.

My earthly body is fragile, but I will be raised with You indestructible!   I live in weakness and with embarrassment, but I will return with You in power and with glory!

Because I look to You for my eternal future, there is no fear, because Yours is the victory!  “Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death is your victory?  Where, O death is your sting?”   Thanks be to You!  You have given me victory through my Lord Jesus Christ!”  Amen

Job 14:1-5; I Corinthians 15:35-58; Psalm 39:4-7

June 1 Help me act in belief

“Stop doubting and believe.”

Often I have heard that people think being a Christian means checking your brain at the door and believing in something blindly.   But Jesus, here You give me an example of just the opposite.

You say to Thomas (who has been forever since called “Doubting Thomas”) to “stop doubting and believe.”  But You were not just a voice in the dark asking him to believe blindly.  You were standing right in front of him.  You were offering to let him see and touch and feel what was real.  You provided proof for his faith.

But it is often the same with me.  I can be stubborn in my reluctance to go forward out of fear of failure or embarrassment or things not working out; even when You are standing in front of me.   You can offer proof to me because You see things I can’t.  You already know how things will work out.

Lord, help me take the steps You direct me to take, in boldness.  Don’t let me be frozen by fear, or hesitate in half-heartedness.  Do not let me doubt Your Word or Your leading.  Remind me of Your faithfulness to me in the past.

As You breathed the Holy Spirit on Your disciples, breath a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit on me.  Let me be empowered anew by You living in me.

As Thomas responded with belief, it seems he should be known as “Believing Thomas.”  But I think more people can relate to his position before he saw You.  So it’s a good lesson for everyone.

Thank You for showing me that I need not doubt.  Help me be bold, in belief.  Amen

John 20:19-31   

Jan 22 Death to life!

Holy Father, I cannot even imagine the depth of joy Israel must have felt at the realization that the son he thought he had lost forever, was alive!

I cannot imagine grieving for a son for so long, dealing with a sense of loss so great that it makes you physically ill and emotionally destitute; then to discover that the object or your intense love and devotion has been resurrected and returned to you!

But You are a God of resurrection miracles! You are the One with the power of restoration! And there will be another great reunion as we see all our loved ones who love You, again, when we spend eternity together in Your presence.

It must have seemed like a miracle to Israel: Your bringing the son that was dead to him, back into fellowship and life. How awesome is Your power!

You are not limited by what we have come to understand are the limits and laws of our physical world. You walked on water! You healed the sick and dying with a touch! You multiplied five pieces of bread and two fish to feed literally thousands of hungry people. And that was only during the first twenty-four hours after hearing of Your own personal loss: the death of Your cousin, John the Baptist!

Twice during that time, you withdrew to be alone to pray. How hard it must have been to remain in this physical world with all its pain and grief, suffering, sickness and evil, knowing Your true home was in heaven. You could have left it all behind in an instant.

Thank You for continuing to walk the path that would lead to Your sacrifice and the saving of mankind; rejoining us to Yourself, our heavenly Father, bridging the chasm between our sinfulness and Your holiness.

Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty!

Genesis 44:18-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36

Jan 22 What was dead is alive!

Holy Father, I cannot even imagine the depth of joy Israel must have felt at the realization that the son he thought he had lost forever, was alive!

I cannot imagine grieving for a son for so long, dealing with a sense of loss so great that it makes you physically ill and emotionally destitute; then to discover that the object or your intense love and devotion has been resurrected and returned to you!

But You are a God of resurrection miracles! You are the One with the power of restoration! And there will be another great reunion as we see all our loved ones who love You, again, when we spend eternity together in Your presence.

It must have seemed like a miracle to Israel: Your bringing the son that was dead to him, back into fellowship and life. How awesome is Your power! You are not limited by what we have come to understand are the limits and laws of our physical world. You walked on water! You healed the sick and dying with a touch! You multiplied five pieces of bread and two fish to feed literally thousands of hungry people. And that was only during the first twenty-four hours after hearing of Your own personal loss: the death of Your cousin, John the Baptist!

Twice during that time, you withdrew to be alone to pray. How hard it must have been to remain in this physical world with all its pain and grief, suffering, sickness and evil, knowing Your true home was in heaven. You could have left it all behind in an instant.

Thank You for continuing to walk the path that would lead to Your sacrifice and the saving of mankind; rejoining us to Yourself, our heavenly Father, bridging the chasm between our sinfulness and Your holiness.

Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty!

Genesis 44:18-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36

 

 

Jan 22 What was dead is alive!

Holy Father, I cannot even imagine the depth of joy Israel must have felt at the realization that the son he thought he had lost forever, was alive!

I cannot imagine grieving for a son for so long, dealing with a sense of loss so great that it makes you physically ill and emotionally destitute; then to discover that the object or your intense love and devotion has been resurrected and returned to you!

 

But You are a God of resurrection miracles! You are the One with the power of restoration! And there will be another great reunion as we see all our loved ones who love You, again, when we spend eternity together in Your presence.

It must have seemed like a miracle to Israel: Your bringing the son that was dead to him, back into fellowship and life. How awesome is Your power! You are not limited by what we have come to understand are the limits and laws of our physical world. You walked on water! You healed the sick and dying with a touch! You multiplied five pieces of bread and two fish to feed literally thousands of hungry people. And that was only during the first twenty-four hours after hearing of Your own personal loss: the death of Your cousin, John the Baptist!

Twice during that time, you withdrew to be alone to pray. How hard it must have been to remain in this physical world with all its pain and grief, suffering, sickness and evil, knowing Your true home was in heaven. You could have left it all behind in an instant.

Thank You for continuing to walk the path that would lead to Your sacrifice and the saving of mankind; rejoining us to Yourself, our heavenly Father, bridging the chasm between our sinfulness and Your holiness.

Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty!

Genesis 44:18-34-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36