Things happen that can rock our world. Like yesterday and the attack on the White House. Shocking events can temporarily shake us and make us feel the darkness. We need light and the good news is… there is light to be found! Jesus!

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. John 12:35-36

The Lord is our light! We do not need to fear. He lives in us and the light that He is cannot help but shine out. Light brings hope.The world desperately needs His light and hope. The darker the world is, the more our Lord’s light will show up. When we choose the Lord, it is a choice to walk in His light. Instead of fearing the darkness we can celebrate the light!

Our faith is a light! Even when we cannot see through the darkness, by faith we can see a step at a time. We may want to know what will happen next week or next month. However, when we can’t see the future we can know we will be okay because Jesus sees the future for us! In faith, we trust our Light to guide us as He sees fit. Our faith overcomes the darkness that may threaten to overtake us. We can trust the Lord to take us through this world, our temporary home, on the way to our real home, heaven.

Our righteousness is a light! With Jesus as our example of holiness, we shine a holy and needed light in our world. Some cannot see where they are going because they cannot see through the darkness. That is so sad. With our call to be righteous like our Lord, though, we can see where we are going. We are going wherever Jesus leads us. Our positivity and faith will attract others to us. We are “children of light.” Our purpose is to shine holy for Jesus…and shine wholly for Him!

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 1 Peter 1:15-17

One for the journal- Think of someone who has helped you during a “dark” time of trial in your life. Write down three ways to help someone else by encouraging them during their trial. What has the Light of the world done to help you? Thank Him for His ever present guidance.

Dear Lord,

How can we thank You properly for all that You are to us? You are our never-ending light! We thank You for being our hope and faith each and every single day. Sometimes we use our own judgement and see dark, so thank You for reminding us that we have a bright future and trials here are temporary! We love You so much! Amen.

One last thing you will love! Here is a link to a great song that encourages us to shine for Jesus! https://youtu.be/DtIIFJIxdUw Chris Rice- Go Light Your World.

As always, love and prayers to all,

Just me. Just His.

We ask the question, “How much does it cost?” when we want to own something. Sometimes we don’t have enough money and sometimes we just don’t want to pay that high of a price. If we are working part-time , a valuable purchase might be out of the question. If we are working full-time we may have too many other obligations to give that purchase a priority. The Lord put this thought in my head about cost…”How much would you pay for salvation if it wasn’t free?” For several weeks it has plagued me. So has this verse:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-27 NIV

What a heavy thing to consider! Salvation IS free. It was bought by someone we didn’t even know at the time that He did it. Jesus, thought we were worth the price. He obeyed His Father and gave to the needy, us. He gave all. As usual, He sets the example for us with His actions. Is it good enough that we appreciate His sacrifice or should we follow His example to give all? We were given life and then a free life to use for Him. How can we do that? What does giving all look like? As selfish as I can be, do I give all I possibly can? Please consider my experience with not giving for a minute…

There are so many opportunities to help the needy. In the front of grocery stores there may be bins to donate food for the needy or a poster asking for presents for soldier’s families. Our church has a food pantry and we also collect coats for the Rescue Mission in our city. I used to never, ever donate. Sad, but true. The Lord convicted me of not sharing what I was blessed with. Now my husband and I give what we can when we are asked to donate to a worthy cause. Why? Jesus has given us something we do not deserve and cannot pay for. Because being a disciple means giving all. Because Jesus set the example of giving all. Because in Luke chapter 14, He asks us to. That is enough.

So, getting back to the question of cost, here is one for our journal- Take time to be alone with Jesus and listen to what He says when you ask yourself…What are you willing to sacrifice because Jesus’ death means more than your life? Ask the Lord to bring to mind your part as a disciple. What are you able to give in terms of time, money or even unused possessions stored in the basement? Is there some overlooked thing you can do for the needy and thereby do it for Him?

Dear Lord,

Thank You for showing us we have something to offer our church, our community and You, most of all. As You bless us, we will bless others. Please forgive us of being human and not seeing the value of doing that more. We want to bear our own cross and sacrifice our comfort for someone else’s. Show us how to do that. We may have been working part-time and holding back our resources but show us how our hearts can work full-time for You. Thank You for what You gave us for free. Help us to freely give also. Show us the benefit if denying ourselves for someone else’s blessing. We love You so much! Amen

As always, love and prayers to you all.

Just me. Just His.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Why? Because it’s fitting, David says. Psalms are songs, so imagine David singing this!

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1

To cover all bases, David explains why everyone should praise the Lord in Psalms 147.

Why should Jerusalem praise the Lord? David says…

Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. Psalm 147:12-13

Why should nature praise the Lord?

Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created. Psalm 147:2-5

Why should the broken praise the Lord?

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Why should all people praise the Lord?

Kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Psalm 148:11-13

What happens when we don’t hear or see God answering our prayer? Do we still praise Him? David asked God some questions of his own. He was clearly miserable here, and feeling like God had forsaken Him:

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. Psalm 22:1-2

And in the next verse He begins with BUT…a clue that he is making an exception to what He just said.

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Psalm 2:3

I love this verse!! God is enthroned in praises. Our praises exalt Him. He abides on high and floats on our praises, is the image I have of David’s words. We can put Him on the throne in our hearts. He so deserves it! His name and character and actions and love deserve to be exalted no matter what.

One for the journal: This is a fun one! Make a list of all that God has done for you. Squeeze as many things on one page as you can! Get in a quiet spot and tell God what you are about to do. He will bring to mind things you may have forgotten. He has done so much for all of us. He made us, for starters! When you are done thank Him for all that is on your page:) I will do this exercise too! I would love to see your journal entries if you ever care to share them:)

Dear Father,

You are not just our King but our loving parent. You made us, designed us and take care of us. Your plan to save us from sin is a testament to Your pure love. Help us to live here on earth to honor You. You are more than wonderful and worthy! There’s no way we can list every thing You have done for us, so we thank You for all You have done, all You are doing now and all You will do in the future. We know You are always working for our good. Please guide us to work for You more. Show us what we can do at church or in our community to exalt You. We love You and give You all praise now and forever! Amen

Just me. Just His.

Do you ever have a week where the enemy is attacking you? Did it leave you frustrated and tired? If so, we have something in common! For the last couple of weeks, my computer has been acting up, only when I try to write my devotions. My knee is swollen so I cannot go up and down stairs without pain. An injury from a car accident has me in a lot of pain; my neck, back and shoulder keep spasming or locking up. Honestly, I am not writing this for sympathy. I am writing it because I still can! There are so many things to be thankful for, even in a trial!

Though my neck is killing me, some people cannot move from the neck down. Though my back keeps spasming off and on, some people have back pain 24-7. Some people cannot feel their back at all. Though my computer is trying to keep me from writing these devotions, some people do not have a computer or the hand movement to type or write. Though my computer won’t let me post a picture today, I can paint a picture with words. Some people cannot see pictures or the printed word. All of this points me to God’s Word which says…

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

One thing I like about James’ writing is that he covers all bases when it comes to guiding Christians’ behavior. It is like he answers our questions before we ask. He writes that we need to find the joy in trials, and then proceeds to answer questions that may arise from that statement. He answers the questions: “Why should we have joy?, What kind of trials will we have? What is the reason for my trials?

James tells sisters and brothers in Christ to consider seeing trials as a joy. The word ‘consider’ makes me laugh a bit because sometimes you have no desire to see the good side of things. That makes the enemy happy, our focusing on, and being engulfed by the bad. James asks us to just look at trials in a different way, through the eyes of spiritual growth. He also uses the word, WHENEVER. He doesn’t say, “If you happen to have a trial,” he says when you do face trials. And not just one trial, but trials of all kinds! Why should we have joy? Because trials produce perseverance and maturity, if we let them.

So, as I sit here writing, I am so thankful for the ability to read and write and understand God’s Word. I am thankful for my recent trials because it means I have an opportunity to mature. I am thrilled that I have God’s word to guide us as I persevere so I may “be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” I am thankful for caring doctors, family and friends who encourage me. I am beyond blessed to be able to see, hear, and move my body, which some cannot do at all. Most of all, I am joyful because I matter enough to warrant a test of maturity. God is so good!

If this devotion seems a bit personal and all about me, I apologize. I only mean to encourage others with the encouragement the Lord gives me. I have joy in my trials this morning and you can have it too! It is a decision based on fact and choice. Fact: God loves us! He wants us to become our best self for Him. Choice: We can choose joy over despair because… we know trials have a holy purpose!

One for the journal…Read the scripture today several times, then read it as if the Lord were talking directly to you. 1.Make it personal. For example…Insert your name before the verse and read it as if God is talking to You. 2.After you finish making it personal, make it a statement of faith: I WILL consider trials a joy. I know I will face all types of trials. I also know and will do my best to remember, that trials test my faith. When I persevere and choose joy in the trial, I will become more of what God wants me to be, a mature follower of His. My faith in Him will grow and mature, the more I use it. I will not be lacking anything when I trust in God….something like this. Write in your journal your own personal vow based on the verse.

Dear Father:

You are so good to us. Though we have trials of all kinds, we know You are perfectly capable of helping us through each trial and with joy! The world may not understand it when we have joy in a dark place, but that’s a good thing. Maybe they will see it is Your light that guides us! Thank You for whatever trials we may face today. Please stay close to us always. We love You so much and only want Your will, even if its a trial You think we need. Amen.

As always, love and prayers to you,

Just me. Just His.

It is the first Sunday of 2021! How will you spend this special day? Many of us will go to church online or in person, because it is the Lord’s day. Some of us are required to work on Sundays. As for me, I was planning on going to church online and then painting my old desk today. John and I bought the paint last night. However…the Lord put this thought of rest in my heart and mind. If I am able to rest and not work, shouldn’t I?

For some, that is not possible. Preachers work on Sunday. Many workers are required to work on Sundays. Some have to work all weekend. I thought about how God worked hard for six days and then needed a rest. He looked at all He made and rested on the seventh day.

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 2:2-3

Wait, GOD needed a rest? He needed a rest, so much so that He created the seventh day specifically for resting and made it holy. He blessed the seventh day. I know sometimes we have to work to support our families or we may need to help someone else on that day. We can work as if we are working for the Lord, in those cases!

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

It crossed my mind that God helps people all day, every day. He rested but He never sleeps! How comforting!

He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4

Dear Father,

It is really hard for some of us to slow down on Sundays. Could You help us to see the value in it? Please help us put our to-do list on hold if we are not required to work today. We love You and want to honor You however we can and when we do work, we want to work as if You are our boss, which You really are. We love You! Amen

Journal Time…

List some ways that You can honor God on Sundays. List some ways You can honor Him on other days too. It may be that you can help your neighbor, write a letter to someone lonely or sing praises to God every morning, if you love to sing. He does not expect us to be perfect at all, but to strive to honor Him and His Word. It is the heart’s intent that matters:)

Love and prayers to all!

Just me. Just His.

When we hear information that differs from source to source, we may, in frustration say, “He said, she said.” It is an expression used to indicate a probable lack of truth. While reading Genesis just now, that phrase came to mind. Remember the incident in the garden where God told Adam not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17 ESV

What God said to Adam alone, the serpent questioned Eve about. He basically got her to repeat the command to Him. Eve was fully aware of what God expected, so the serpent decided to attack from a selfish and prideful point-of-view. He has the audacity to question God’s motive! He calls God a liar!

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

So, God said something, then the serpent said something and then Eve acted. Isn’t that exactly how temptation works? We already have God’s Word, but the tempter will come and tell us we can do what we want. We have the power. Interestingly, that is what got satan thrown out of heaven, fighting for control and denying God’s authority.

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:9 ESV

God tells us, in His Word how to not fall prey to the enemy. It is to submit ourselves to Him. When we fill our souls with His commands, His spiritual food, we will be able to resist the schemes of the enemy.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 ESV

When we hear opinions on what God expects or allows, whether from the evil one or multiple sources from the world, our best bet is to go straight to God’s Word and feed on it as if our lives depended on it, which they do! How great is He to give us what we need to live a righteous life!

Journal time: In what ways have you been tempted to go against God’s Word? (We all are tempted!) Is there an area in which you are more susceptible? Find a verse about that area, like pride, for example. Write down a verse that tells what God says about it and commit it to memory. As for me, I make too many plans so I will memorize a verse about letting God plan. If your life was recorded in the Bible, would there be a time when you knew right but were tempted to follow the enemy? How would you like that story to end? Good news! We us get to choose how our story ends!

One last thing…Do you remember the old song, “Standing on the Promises?” Here is a link. Listen to and sing the words. So inspiring. We can stand firm on God’s promises to us! Praise Him!

Dear God,

What would we do without You? Having You as our guide is like receiving a gift every day of our lives. Help us to make good choices, based on Your Word. Please make us aware of our shortcomings so we can better fight off the enemy. We believe what YOU say and want to do what You command. Help us love those who do not know You who need You. Give us opportunities to tell them about how awesome You are. We know trials will come but we know Your Word will stand so we will cling to Your truths. You know best. We love You! Amen

Good morning and Happy New Year! Are you ready for another year? Are you set to achieve things? Are you ready and set to go God’s way? These are the questions we can ask ourselves as we start a new year. As my daughters ran track, I have an image in my mind of runners crouched low, looking at the track, focusing on hearing the “gun” go off that starts their race. It dawned on me just now that this is a great way to start each day the Lord gives us, like a race we are very determined to win.

The first thing we can do is to be ready for the race each day. I have found that laying my open Bible on the desk the night before helps a lot. It reflects my openness to read and feed on God’s Word. Placing things at the ready position reinforces that we are looking forward to reading our Bible. That desire to read God’s Word will multiply the more we do this. Placing a journal or notepad by the Bible shows our readiness to learn something we do not want to forget and it is a great place to write out prayers. January 1, 2020, I started writing some of my prayers and it literally changed my spiritual life. Intentional things that we do to be ready for God, He will reward. To be transparent, here is my messy desk, to show You what I see when I wake up. This scene makes my desire to read the Bible irresistible!

The next thing we can do to run a good race is to be set in the correct position. A track athlete who wants to do their very best may often start low to the ground. As Christians running our race for God, the best way to start the race is by becoming low, or humble. We may not always be able to see the finish line but we can lower ourselves to start well in the humble posture that reflects our hearts. We know the race may be hard but we, in a posture of obedience, will run the race as we have been trained to do. The Bible is our guidebook and God is our coach. He gives us His Son and His Holy Spirit to train us. Why? He wants us to succeed!

The only thing left is to GO! With a healthy dose of spiritual food and our hearts in the humble position, we are ready to go and do what God wants us to do. He will never make us go it alone though! He will coach us all along the way. When we trust Him to teach us how to be even better runners, He shows us that part of getting better is by doing. Praying to God each morning like consulting a coach before we run our race. He can remind us of pitfalls and obstacles and other runners or events that may distract us. But the Bible is clear:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 1-2 NIV

Jesus gave us the example of endurance when He gave His all on the cross. He did it for “the joy set before Him.” Isn’t that just like us looking at God each day, no matter how dire the circumstances? We know He has a plan for our lives. A plan that demands our whole heart. We probably will not be asked to actually die for God, but a death of selfishness is not out of the question. Who will we live for this year? Who will we aim to please most? How will we get ourselves ready to start each day? Will we get set in the humble position? Will we listen to our coach? Will we run the way God’s Word tells us to? We may not have control over much of what happens to us, but we can be ready and set to run the race as God wants us to:)

Journal- Day One… Answer some of the questions above in your journal or talk to God about them. (I do the journal work too. I may need it the most!)Consider these ideas to get ready to read God’s Word each day:

Make a plan for Bible reading. Maybe write your plan down in the front of your journal. Print out a chronological or other Bible reading plan. Order a devotional magazine for extra reading, This is important…Pick out a place in your home that you can leave your Bible open every night, ready to be read the next day. Get a journal to record what God teaches you each day. Lay that out by your Bible. I sincerely hope some of these ideas help you as much as it did me…and as it keeps helping me! I may not have a lot of willpower, but the power of God can direct even me. We are only what God makes us.

Dear Father,

Words cannot describe how thankful we are that You have a plan for our lives. Otherwise, we would be running in circles. We do not have all the details of Your plan for us but that is as it should be. You are wiser as to what we need. For today, coach us to run the very best race we can, for Your glory, not for ours. Thank You for even considering us as worthy athletes on Your team! Make a change in our hearts as we read Your Word. Show us how to love others the way You love us. We love You, coach God! Let’s go! Amen

Love and prayers to all of you. May God grant You a great day in His Word for His glory!

Just me. Just His.

Tina