I was talking to my daughter the other day and she had a couple of rough days ahead, normal life stuff. I suggested she look forward to the future when she would be over and past those few days. Easier said than done, but through experience, you learn that it does lift your spirit to look forward to something good.

As Christians, we can do that, look forward to something good. We are not walking randomly around on the earth, we are following the Lord. There is a big difference between walking and walking with a purpose toward something. Following Jesus is a purposeful act that leads to a forever home with Him. Any troubles we have her on earth are just temporary, for we have a bright future to focus on!

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

So, we know we will have trials that tempt us to take our eyes off our future, so what do we do to stay focused? Remember Jesus. It wasn’t for nothing that He died on a cross. It was for the glorious future and the joy that the future gave Him. Isn’t it worth anything we bear, to have an eternal home with Jesus? Yes! There is no comparison and that is why we should compare the two worlds every so often, so we remember our trials are temporary.

As usual, Jesus sets the example for us to follow in bearing suffering. He bore ALL on the cross, for you and me. He did it to follow and honor God’s will. His example is sort of like a template that we fit our lives into. When we bear sorrow and trials with a heavenly focus, we are staying within the template of Him. We will become more like Him. If we draw outside the template, we will look less like Him. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is the key.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 2-3

There is an old song that jumped in my mind just now, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. What a wonderful song of hope. The world becomes dim as we gaze on our wonderful Savior!

Dear, wonderful Savior,

Thank You for Your example to guide us as we travel closer and closer to a future with you. Help us to alter our view so we are aimed toward You, Your will, Your path for us. Please forgive us when we take our eyes off You and get stressed by events in the world. We know that You went through so much so that we could have a future with You, so we will do our best, Your best rather, to follow at a close distance, the One that we love! We do love You so much! In Your precious name, we ask all these things. Amen

Have a wonderful day! Love and prayers,

Just me. Just His.

Tina

Do you ever re-read a book, knowing its ending? I can only do that with really great books, like In His Steps by Charles Sheldon, or More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell. Both are so inspiring that I feel the need to read them again. The Bible, on a much, much higher plane is like that! We may know the storyline, characters and ending, but on each reading it gives unending wisdom, peace and hope. Truth in the Bible never gets old or used up. How can that be? It is a living, breathing thing. It is hope. It is God’s Word!

When we are facing trials, we need the inspiration and hope that the Bible holds. You may have heard the saying, “We may have lost the battle, but we can still win the war.” Many people have said a version of this phrase through the years. Its purpose is to give hope and encouragement that the big picture looks better than one battle. As tempting as it is to lean on powerful quotes, real hope for our spiritual battles can only be found in a spiritual source.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Though we have the enemy taunting us to give up because the battle is so tough, remember that he lies and will do whatever it takes to bring down those that love the Lord. There IS hope in God. That doesn’t mean we will have it easy, but that we are prepared for battle with Him as our strength.

Just as the thought of our warrior God sparks hope in us, it strikes fear in the enemy. Win, win!

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:2 ESV

I recently found a song whose lyrics I love! Selah sings a song, “People of the Cross.” Just that phrase gives hope, because of what Jesus did on the cross!

“We choose Christ and count all else as loss. We won’t be shaken, hope won’t be taken. We are the People of the Cross.” (Selah, Unbreakable, 2017)

Dear Jesus,

What You did on the cross will never cease to amaze us. Thank You for providing, with Your blood, fighting hard and winning the war against death for us! Battles on earth may surprise and weaken us, but we will not be taken by the enemy because we have You fighting for us, with us! Help us to feel Your amazing strength in battles so we do not lose hope. We already know that You will do this, so thank You. We will cling to the truth of the Cross. We are people of the cross. Any suffering we have is temporary and does not compare to what You suffered. With our eyes fixed on You, we can have hope in the battle. We love You so much! Amen

Have a great day! Love and prayers to all,

Just me. Just His.

Tina

Did you love to color as a kid? It is not just for kids anymore. As adults, we are seeing a return to coloring. Stores are stocked with hundreds of choices of adult coloring books, pens , crayons and markers. It is a great outlet to express ourselves; we get to choose what we want our finished picture to look like. In the same way, we choose what color we want our hearts to be colored and what we want our life to look like. It has been said that, “You see a person’s true colors when they are in desperate circumstances.” The true color of our heart determines what will come out when we are under pressure.

We have two choices of heart colors, darkness or light. Darkness is the color of a heart without Jesus and His light. When we choose Jesus, though, we are choosing light and the color white for our hearts. White represents purity, righteousness and freedom from sin. Only He can wash our hearts to make them white. He is clothed in white. All is white and light with Jesus and He wants us to be of the same color inside. When He moves in, He makes it so!

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NIV

There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Matthew 17:2 NIV

One color that Jesus does not prefer for our hearts is grey. It is that in-between color that does not commit to total darkness or total light, but a mixture of the two. Have you heard that grey is a dangerous area? It is dangerous because we are letting some darkness is. Darkness and light do not go together. Jesus demands pure commitment:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15 NIV

Do we want to be spit out of His mouth? Absolutely not. This verse will remind us that serving Jesus is about pleasing Him. If He wants 100% then we have to give Him just that. This may seem like a simple devotional about things we already know, but I think it is always wise to go back to the basics and make sure our foundation is strong and pure. A fully committed heart for Jesus is a beautiful thing.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving us the way we are , even when we mess up at times. We are so grateful to be able to know You and Your cleansing power to color our hearts white. Please help us to keep the darkness out by making wise choices that You approve of. You see everything. Convict us of wrongdoings so we can become more like You. Thanks for being that BEST friend who will tell us everything we need to know. We love You so much! Amen.

Love and prayers to you all,

Just me. Just His. Nothing else will do.

Tina