Month: November 2020

Are We Ever Good Enough?

November 20, 2020

Unfortunately, some of us have been told we are not good enough, that we don’t measure up. That can be really hurtful. Some of us harshly judge ourselves. That hurts as well. The truth is… others are not the judge of our good-ness, and we are not the judge of how “good” we are either. God is the only judge. And guess what? He loves us unconditionally!

That does not give us license to sin, just because He will love us no matter what. Rather, it is a treasure for us to grasp that He loves us as we are and a motivation for us to worship His goodness and love that gifts us with part of Himself.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4 :9-10 NKJV

God demonstrated His love even while we did not love Him. That’s huge! The terms, “good” and “love” as used in this verse are all about God’s huge goodness and love, that we did nothing to earn. Even Jesus did not consider Himself good! (and I would say He earned it!)

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. Mark 10:18 NKJV

Jesus didn’t respond to the man’s very important question first, but to an adjective he used! It is like He said, “Wait, hold everything. Please don’t call me good.” This tells me that humility, as part of Jesus’ character, is immensely important for us to have also. It’s important that we allow the hand of God to exalt us. Peter says just that…

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 NIV

Some thoughts for our focus today:

  1. God’s love for us is not proportional or connected to how “good” we are, but how good He is.
  2. Being judged by the world will happen, but it’s God’s judgement we should be more concerned about.

Dear Father,

The world’s definitions of “good” are so far removed from what You embody. Your goodness and love are wrapped up in each other and given to us. Thank You for the gift of Jesus! He was so humble even though He saved the whole world. That thought alone gives us reason to leave any judging of our “good” to You. Humility does not come natural to us, so please help us in that area. You are good and perfect for that job. It is all about You and Your goodness. We love You! Amen

GROWWork:

  1. List some good things about God. Thank Him for His goodness. There’s plenty to think on today! The simplest thoughts about Him are worth much of our time and singular focus. Aren’t you glad He’s a loving God?.

Love and prayers to all. Stay safe!

Tina

Hold Still, Daughter

November 19, 2020
Mother cutting daughter’s hair at home

November 19, 2020

When I was young, my mother always cut my hair. My bangs needed constant trimming. Momma would get to work, as I sat very still in the vinyl kitchen chair while the pointy scissors swept past my eyes. You may have similar memories. In my case, she held my chin still with one hand while cutting my bangs using the other. One day, I decided to move her chin-holding hand away and I held my chin myself. I was sure I could do a good job, but I didn’t. I shook too much. She told me she will do the holding because she does a better job when she does it herself. I trusted her, so I let go.

Isn’t that just like God? And isn’t that just like us? I admit to trying to do God’s job sometimes, but I eventually realize it and He forgives my error. He says to me, “Sit still, daughter.” Just like with Momma, I trust Him, so I let go of control and sit still. He sees the big picture. He sees and knows all. All I see are the scissors!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

Dear Father,

You are a good Father and You know how to take good care of us. Forgive us for trying to do Your job. Help us to sit still with our hands empty of our own plans. Also help us to wait and listen for Your guidance. You are perfect and we are not. Thank You for Your plan for us. Amen.

GROWwork:

  1. Write down three things, or more, that help you trust God. They could be verses, experiences, or a list of His attributes that we can lean on.
  2. List advantages of us resting more on His promises than overly planning outcomes. He likes it when we trust Him:)

Love and prayers to all,

Tina

I Spy

November 18, 2020

November 18, 2020

As a child, when my family went on long car trips, we would play “I Spy.” If you don’t know the game, it’s where you “spy” something of a certain color nearby. Everyone else tries to guess what you see. We all took turns trying to choose the smallest, hardest-to-see things. I once “spied” a blue car that was passing us. I kind of cheated because what I saw was no longer visible to the others. That didn’t sit well with them:)

I just now read in Matthew about the guards doing some spying of their own. Shortly after Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to Mary Magdalene and another Mary, who ran to tell the disciples, the temple guards ran off too; they went to tell the chief priests all that had happened. This is how the chief priests and elders handled the information.

When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples cane at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” Matthew 28:12-14 NKJV

As Christians, we know something that the counsel either didn’t consider or care about. God sees all. He saw the elders, chief priests and the bribed guards. He heard the lies they were going to to spread to others. If you played, “I Spy” with God, He would win every time.

Things that have passed, He already saw. Things in the future, He already sees. Things we do and say now, He knows and hears. There’s nothing you can hide from God. This thought has corrected my attitude many times.

God can also see our heart. Motives and incentives are not lost on Him. He is the Invisible God that sees the invisible. This verse assures me that we can hide nothing from God.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 NKJV

Does it seem sometimes that God isn’t punishing the evil in our world? Maybe so, but we must remember He has a plan we can’t see. One thing that we can bank on, is that God does sees it all and eventually, everyone will have to account for their actions. We do not have to judge or worry. Nothing will go unpunished or unrewarded. Our job is to be careful what we treasure, because it determines what actions we take. This verse explains it well:

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 NKJV

Dear Father,

You are our greatest treasure. Thank You for Your Word that guides us to stay in the way of truth. Thank you for giving us the best chance of showing holy actions, by living abundantly in our hearts. You see us when we have wrong actions or attitudes. Thank You for Your grace that forgives. You are amazing and we love You! Amen.

GROWwork: (I am doing this too.)

  1. In a very quiet place, pray and ask God to help You inventory your heart. What things do you hold dear? What actions come from valuing those things?( If you like, make a list in your journal.)
  2. What things does God see, that you wish He didn’t? Is there anything you/I can change? This is not meant to be judgmental but kind of an offering to God, a “taking stock” measure. Ask God to help with any issues.

Love and prayers to you all,

Tina

Going Shopping

November 17, 2020

November 17, 2020

Do you have a habit of going to the same stores all the time? Is it because you like knowing exactly where to find what you need? It’s so convenient, isn’t it? Returning to the most reliable, dependable stores is a no-brainer. The more times they have what we need, the more likely we are to go back to the same place.

It’s the same train of thought for spiritual needs. We can have that same reliability factor and find what we need from the Bible every time. God makes it so easy; He is there in His Word whenever we go looking for Him. One-stop shopping! There’s nothing God cannot supply out of His stores of goodness and wisdom. He’s available 24 hours, to hear us, help us, and never too busy to watch over us. He never fails:) That’s convenience!

Awhile before He was crucified, Jesus talked to the disciples; they were sad because He would be going away soon. They didn’t even have to ask for comforting though. Jesus already knew they needed it. He does that for us too; He knows our feelings and hearts before we ask for something. Out of love, Jesus comforted the disciples with these words that He knew would encourage them.

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. Matthew 16: 23-24 NKJV

Jesus loves us so much and wants to be our go-to person for peace, comfort, wisdom, everything. Someday, instead of reading Jesus’ words, we will hear them in person! What a day that will be!

This is a taste of Heaven!

Friends, I hope you know you are so loved. I pray for the you, readers of the words God leads me to write. This blog is my attempt to please Jesus by getting His and His Father’s Words out in the world a bit more. I haven’t always had that as my priority, but it’s never too late to make a change, He tells me:) We need to be ready and willing to tell the world why we have hope in a sometimes dark world.

Father,

Please bless my brothers and sisters who are reading this. Plant in them a joy and a hope that shines out to others. Give us what we need to accomplish Your will. When we need help, nudge us to go to Your supply of wisdom, Your word. Please give us opportunities to use what You teach us. We love You! Amen.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7 NKJV

GROWwork:

Insert your name into the verse above, as if Jesus is talking to you. For example, in Matthew 6:23….. “Tina…I will see you again and your heart will rejoice and your joy no one will take from you.” That is powerful! Inserting your name will remind you that He is speaking to you personally.

Love and prayers to all,

Tina

Of Love and Peace

November 16, 2020

My friend and I were talking awhile back about how we have concerns within our family, nothing earth-shattering. She said she was praying about her attitude towards someone that she needed to forgive. Though she could have been asking God to fix the other person or show them the error of their ways, she was praying for her part in the matter. What the Lord thought of her was more important than what the family member did. Her dependence on God is a great example to me.

You may remember a time when you disagreed with someone and the discord upset you. The struggle is real. It’s hard to deal with the frustration and not easy to let go of someone’s unkindness and forgive them. However, if we step back a moment and see the big picture, things become easier. That is a little “trick” that one of my pastors taught me. You need to get the right perspective before you can see things God’s way. That may involve stepping back from pride and selfishness and looking at things from God’s angle. How does He see things? Paul writes an excellent guide to treating others how in a way God would approve of:

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15

Paul describes love as being the bond of perfection. Just as love held Jesus to the cross for our sins, we can be held to each other with the glue of love. My pastor was right. When we consider the big picture, things look very different. We can see the value of the virtues of kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering and forgiving. We don’t have to do it by ourselves. Jesus helps us! Bonus…when we love, we receive His peace!

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving us although we are imperfect. Help me to love others like You do. Help me to see love as the glue that we are meant to use on others generously. Thank You for guiding me to a place of peace in my relationships when I stumble. You are peace and I am so glad You are always with me. I love you! Amen

Journal “GROWwork” :

Touch base with someone who may have hurt your feelings or someone you know does not have many friends. Use God’s “glue of love” to restore a relationship, or start one with someone who needs love. Let’s grow from our experiences:)

(As always, I do the homework/GROW work too. I may need it most.)

Love and prayers to all,

Tina

God is Great, God is Good

November 15, 2020

November 15, 2020

I am excited right now! My puppy is with my husband so I can have peace and quiet in my office. That doesn’t happen a whole lot. My first thought… “Yes! I can dig into the Word!” As the world gets crazier and crazier, and fake news is everywhere, I seem to crave God’s truth.

I grabbed my favorite Bible and opened to:

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Psalm 48:1 NJKV

I would like to stop right there. This one verse is enough to think on all day long. It reminds me of the simple prayer below. As a child, you may have prayed this before a meal. I could not determine the author of this prayer. Thank you to learnreligions.com for the image.

A family at a dinner table with the following prayer text: God is great and God is good, And we thank God for our food; By God's hand, we must be fed, Give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen.

The verse and that prayer have two things in common:

  1. They both start with establishing God’s greatness.
  2. They both paint a portrait of a right relationship with God.

Acknowledging God’s greatness is a great way to start every meal, every day, every prayer, time of worship or devotion. Calling Him great before asking for anything speaks of our submission to Him and realization of our weakness without Him. We know that, in His love, He will answer in the way that is best. In the relationship between us and God, our part is to acknowledge we are flawed and He is not.

Great is the Lord by Michael W. Smith

This song will bless you! Dwell with the Lord as you listen or sing of His greatness! Personal note…Together, my husband and I and all of our guests, sang this as the last part of our wedding ceremony. It was the most joyous sound and experience ever! It is like our joy is greater when we praise God with others of the same desire. God truly is so great and so, so good!

Dear Father,

You are great and the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Your love knows no bounds in loving and forgiving us, guiding, teaching and protecting us. You do so much!! Please guide my heart to become more like yours, where I love and praise You and I love and forgive others easily. Thank You for my daily food and my spiritual nourishment I receive from Your Word. I love You! Amen

Love and prayers to all,

Tina

Called to Holiness

November 14, 2020

November 14, 2020

Have you ever had to hold your tongue because the words that were ready to come out would be unkind and perhaps start an argument? Did you manage to keep the words in? Did you go ahead and speak them? What happened? These are things to consider while we are not upset, so that when we do feel the urge to be hurtful, we have a better plan!

A very, very long time ago, in high school, I was called “a fool” by a classmate. I won a golf tournament of sorts in my gym class and received three whole Snicker bars! I was so proud of myself! I gave one candy bar to a girl who asked. Another girl saw me give up a candy bar so easily and said, “You’re a fool ” Was I angry and embarrassed? You bet! Did I tell her off? Nope. I was too scared to. I just allowed her comment, along with the laughs of the other students, to silence me.

I was thinking of giving her a candy bar. Seriously, I was, but she was so mean that I withheld it. I’d like to relate this to Jesus. Jesus had tons of criticism and was hated by many. Yet, out of love and obedience, He still chose to die for all, not just people that were nice to Him. Even on the cross, He did not withhold His love, but asked His Father to forgive the very ones who hurt Him!

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:33-34 NJKV

He set the example for us. We can never be as holy as Jesus, but that IS what He asked us to try and do, as Peter writes below.

 …as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 NKJV

One more scripture, because the Bible says it much better than I…

-who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:23-24 NKJV

Dear Jesus,

What You did for me will always overwhelm my heart. I don’t know how You manage to love those who hurt You. I am sorry for times I have hurt others with my words or actions. Please help me to think of Your example of holy love for others. Our world seems crazy right now and spewing hateful words is a common occurrence on tv, news and social media. Please quiet my soul to focus on Your higher plan of holiness and love for me. Your calling is my desire. Help me to be different than the world. I love You! Amen

Journal Homework:

1.Think of and write about a time someone hurt You with words or vice versa. What can you do different next time?

2. Look up a verse about loving others and write it down and memorize it. Ask God to hide it in your heart for when you need it.

Love and prayers to all!

Tina

Cramped Housing

November 13, 2020

November 13, 2020

One of the things that is not on anyone’s priority list when house shopping, is cramped housing. We like to have space to live comfortably and not having to compete with others in the household for space. This thought parallels the housing of the Holy Spirit in a very simple way.

When we confess our sins and ask Jesus to be Lord of our life, He takes us at our word, cleanses our heart and moves in. We allow Him to reign supreme with all of our heart. As humans do, though, we get distracted by things of the world, and add them to our possessions and a little bit of our heart houses them. If we are not careful, we will start to desire possessions more than we desire God and our heart gets cramped.

Every house needs decluttering at some point, and our heart is no different. We, often unknowingly, store away things we don’t really need. Worldly attitudes, lowered values, and prideful ways can all move in to our heart. The way to declutter is just a prayer away. Jesus makes it so easy on us. We can talk to Him or the Holy Spirit at any time and He will hear us every time.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26

Sometimes I think Jesus loves a sinners’ prayer the best. When we admit we need Jesus to overcome a sin, we don’t ask for a little bit of Him to last a day. We want Him to live in us and stay in us always because we know we are nothing without Him. This may all sound simple, but, salvation is simple. Sometimes it is good to see the simple to grasp an extraordinary truth. The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts!

Dear Father,

You know what’s in our heart before we even ask You to clean it. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to abide with us. I want you to have my whole heart clean for You and not just a corner. If You see areas that need to be cleaned, nudge me that they are there. Help me to love you wide open and willing for all of my days. I love You! Amen

Journal Homework:

1.Draw a picture of a heart, yours, and write things in it that You value.

2. Draw another heart and put references of Bible verses that will help you keep your values in line with the Lord’s.

Being a Tool

November 12, 2020

November 12, 2020

A professor once asked me, when I was in college, “If you were an animal, what animal would you say you were and why? To this day, I think about how relevant that was to seeing myself as I was, but also as I wanted to be. By the way…I was a rabbit because I was energetic and easygoing and a little shy:) I wanted to be more outgoing , like a puppy. And this relates to us how, you ask?

Looking at ourselves in a different way may help us see what we need to change or keep doing. For example, if the professor asked me what tool I was in God’s garden shed, I would have to do some deep thinking about my purpose, work experience and helpfulness to Him. There is absolutely no judgement here, only an invitation to think about our purpose from God’s point-of-view. Here are some questions to consider:

What gifts has God given me that can sow His Word?

What shape am I in, as a tool, shiny and new, or well-used?

Am I an obedient tool? Do I work like I am supposed to?

Do I hide in the back of the toolshed so I don’t get called to work?

What is our job as a tool? Is it to understand God’s plan or just be available?

Will we do any dirty work that He wants or just the easy stuff?

For this devotion, you may want to write out your answers in your journal. I will do the same.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21

And let not us grow weary in doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Dear Father,

We know You can do all things without us, but we also know You want to use us to spread the gospel. As we ask ourselves questions and read Your word, please enlighten us to Your purpose for our gifts. Give us opportunities to use them for Your glory. We know that gifts of encouragement and sympathy and compassion are just as important as other seemingly great talents. May You find us to be a willing and useful tool for Your glory. You deserve all praise forever! Amen

How much Joy?

November 11, 2020

November 11, 2020

Do you like a meal or dessert so much that you look forward to it and plan to eat a super-sized portion the next time you have it? The same pattern of thought prevails for spiritual food. There are so many reasons to love God’s word that spiritually nourishes us. We can look forward to each reading because we know we will be filled with its abundance! His Word is organic (original) truth . It is also sufficient and healthy! Here are a few verses (bites) we can chew on!

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Jude 1:24

Jesus said,” I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Dear Father,

Thank you for giving all You could possibly give to me, Your life. I feel the abundance of love. You have set the bar high for us so that we may know what real love is capable of. You have given me so many blessings in our family and friends. You have guided me through trials with Your abundance of wisdom. Everything You have and do is generous. You never give up on me. I love You exceedingly! Amen

Journal Homework:

1. Detail how God gave You what You needed before…peace, guidance, love, etc. Thank Him for answering prayer.

2. Write down your favorite physical meal and one of your favorite spiritual meals, such as a chapter or book in the Bible.

If you care to share any favorites, please do!

Love and prayers to all,

Tina