For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:31-32 NKJV
As a kid, I loved rocks. I kept a special one in my pocket, so that I would be prepared if a friend wanted to draw on the sidewalk. With a large white streak that ran through its steel-colored hardness, it came to a point that was perfect for writing or drawing a hopscotch game. My friends and I also had other treasures of nature that we collected on a hike in the woods, like pretty leaves, pine comes or acorns…or more rocks:) Many times we emptied our pockets of these “treasures” so our moms could decide if we could keep them.
As adults, we do the same; we tend to collect things we love, don’t we? Whether it’s art, dishes, furniture, coins or books, we choose our treasures. They are special to us. Rocks will always be special to me because they remind me of my rock of a Savior. He is always with me and is solid and strong but also wise and soft and caring. There is no other Rock like Him. All I need, all we need, is that One Rock. Unlike other collectibles, we can not buy Him because He already bought you and me. He is a free treasure.
May you find comfort in having the One True Rock with you every day,
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20 NKJV
I have a great friend who is intelligent and humble and brave. She knows how to do just about everything, but would be embarrassed for me to acknowledge her here, so mums the word. Unlike her, I can not watch a youtube video and fix a part in the back of my tv, nor can I remove a snake from my bathroom fan or decorate a house like I was the original Joanna Gaines. There is nothing she can’t do!
Though I do not have her abilities, I do know where to go for help when I need it. For example, I do not know how to fix a car, install windows or fix a computer, but… I can call on someone who does know. When we have a problem, we can attempt to find answers and try to fix it ourselves, if we are so gifted, or we can call someone who knows what we do not.
Many times, we need spiritual answers. Our soul needs fixing. Even my smart friend cannot fix her own soul Truthfully, she would be the first to tell you so and point you straight to God! Aren’t you glad we can call on God for our souls? He is the only One who can fix everything we cannot. He knows absolutely everything and can fix anything, even and especially, us!
May we all go to Him every chance we get, because we all need His expertise:)
Individually, we like things in abundance. Collectively, as a nation, we like things in abundance. Interpersonally, what we need is love in abundance. This is a song and declaration to the Lord to love others abundantly.
Count Me In
Where there’s hunger or there’s hurting, count me in. Let me be the one to help the hurting end. When there’s need, let me go. Let me be the one to walk the way you show. All my things are not my own. They’re to help where there is none. Where there’s hungry or there’s hurting, count me in.
Where there’s loneliness or loss, count me in. Let me be the one to be another’s friend. Giving up my time for me, Grant me visions of how lonely one can be. All my time is yours to own. It’s to help where there is none. Where there’s loneliness or loss, count me in.
Where there’s illness or a trial, count me in. Let me be the one to help another mend. Help me serve a meal or two, Loving others like I know that you would do. My food is not my own. It’s to help where there is none. Where there’s illness or a trial, count me in.
Where there’s anyone needing love, count me in. Let me be the one to ease their suffering. Make my heart a tender tool, and use it to obey the Bible’s rule. My life is not my own. But Yours to use until I’m gone. Where there’s someone needing help, count me In.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
With love from Our Father to you, have a great Wednesday!
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” “I do not receive honor from men.” John 5:19, 41
My children, who are now adults, strived so hard in their sports. Back then, there were no participation awards, so it was a huge deal when they earned a trophy or medal. If they did win, it was because they pushed themselves as far as they possibly could, especially in gymnastics. Whether they did as well as they wanted or had a tough meet, I always reminded them, “Hard work pays off.” Even today, if they call me about a struggle, I can say “Hard work” and they will answer, “Pays off.” Have you ever gotten an award or recognition for your hard work? Doing all the work to get that honor, didn’t it mean so much?
Jesus strived too; He wanted to do something no one else had ever done, something that He could only do with God. He had to push Himself as far as He possibly could. He kept His eyes on the prize, which was not for Him. Yes, that’s right! His hard work on the cross was not even for Him! It was for us. He wanted no recognition either, but glory to God. Jesus did what is often hard for us to do, He deferred all earned glory to His Father.
May we glorify all that God has done through Jesus, and may we always strive to glorify Him more than ourselves,
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying
can add one cubit to his stature? Matthew 6:26-27 NKJV
Ever wake up to a “bird alarm?” Lately, a feathered friend has taken it upon himself to be our personal alarm clock. He is considerate enough to sit right by our window, so we don’t miss the beautiful (but annoying) alarm. As I write, he is loudly chirping his little heart out in the total darkness. Why? I am not sure, but at 4:15 in the morning, it isn’t so well received by my husband and me. Then God reminds me that He made the birds and they do not toil or spin. I can believe that! This bird is singing as if the sun is brightly shining and all is great in his world.
Jesus wants us to consider the birds. He wants us to be free from worry because worry takes our songs away. Instead, it is better to be like birds and know He will take care of us. When we release our worry and trust Him, He fills us with His peace, a peace that is based on what never changes. God is always with us and will take care of us. When we realize that, we can be like birds and declare something beautiful, even in the dark.
Have a blessed Monday. May our good God give you a song to declare:)
‘Twas the dark of the morning and all through the house,
not a body was stirring, not even my spouse.
My Bible and books of devotion to read,
lay piled by my side, their wisdom to heed.
I was thinking how special the true Words of God
Can enter your heart when it sure needs a prod.
Too excited for sleeping, that moment I knew
that my Father was waiting, so quickly I flew.
To my office in jammies, reclined in my chair,
I joy in the presence of God with me there.
The best time for seeking my Father in heaven,
Is the dark of the morning, before light is giv’n.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1
No matter how our emotions change, on any particular day according to our circumstances, I am so glad that God never changes. He is holy, unchangeable and loving. I re-discovered and appreciated that yesterday. Feeling the effects of a Covid vaccine in my body, I was in a bad mood, not wanting to be slowed down by a temperature and dizziness. I had so much I wanted to do that it was hard to sit still but I had to because my head was spinning. All my emotions revolved around being irritated that I was wasting a day. I felt bad about my attitude but I could not shake it. Eventually, I prayed about how I felt. I felt like an unhappy child.
Just like a child will come to the end of themselves before asking for help, I did that. I did all I could do to comfort myself and THEN I turned to God. He showed me that He was there the whole time I was wallowing in pity, waiting for me to ask for His help. He reminded me, like a parent, that I can come to Him for, what seems to me to be the silliest of reasons. He tells me we are still His children, no matter how old we are. He tells me He has His own reasons for what He allows us to experience, even being sick. I love that He is like this all the time, holy and in control. Unlike us, He never has an unholy moment. He is in perfect control even when we are not, and that’s perfectly okay.
With much love from the Father, and praise to the Father,
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV
Do you have a precious Momma that you miss? If not a Momma, do you have someone whose presence you desire when you are going through a hard time? Did they always have the right advice or comfort and make you feel like everything would be okay? Jesus told us we would have difficulties on earth, but it still kind of throws us when it occurs, doesn’t it? We feel like we do not want to be alone in our crisis. We want to be loved in our brokenness.
The Good News? Though we may feel lost, Jesus finds us. Though we feel hurt, the Holy Spirit comforts us. Though we don’t know which way to turn, God is full of light, to show us there is hope in Him. Though we get discouraged, we are never alone. The love and comfort you need, He has. I feel Him saying this to all of us, to me too.
“My child, why are you scared? What makes you that way? It is not me. I do not want you to be afraid or burdened and I will comfort you for as long as you need it. Though you will go through storms in life, you will never go alone. I am here. Do you feel me near? Please try to trust our Father. Please hold onto me in the meantime. I promise I can carry you and I want to. Together we can glorify God. There is no shame in me carrying you. I carried you on the cross, though you didn’t know it. As you carry your own cross, I will help you. I love you.”
This is who He is. This is what He does for us. He does what He said He would do. Praise Him! He is with us and brings us His peace. We will actually see the peace-giver someday!
Have you ever woken up so excited to spend time with Jesus that you could not get your shower and morning tea, or coffee, fast enough? That was me this morning. It wasn’t my doing. It was Jesus. He knows sometimes, that we need to be drawn to Him. Because He loves us, He beckons and draws and welcomes us into His presence by giving an unexplainable joy of what is to come. And He never disappoints!
He gets us excited about His plans, much like a coach does for an athlete. How so? Coaches motivate athletes by teaching them from experience, how to be successful. Jesus motivates us, in Matthew 6! But… we have to be “coachable.” Athletes are considered “coachable” when they are hungry for success, willing to do the hard work and they trust their coach. That begs the question…are we being good athletes for coach Jesus? Do we trust Him supremely? Do we follow His suggested regimen for a winning season? Does winning mean we get glory, or God does?
I found a regimen by coach Jesus! Matthew chapter 6 is like a playbook! Thank you, Lord! (I thought I could not be more excited this morning, but I was wrong.) What got me most excited is that I felt I was being coached by Jesus while I was reading it; He is the only one talking the whole chapter. You know how, when you go to the ocean, you are joyful because everything in your view is God-made and beautiful? That is how God made me see Matthew 6 today. All I see are His holy and beautiful words. Coach Jesus details His game plan to live a holy and beautiful life for God.
Here is part of the “playbook.” Jesus is coaching us:)
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.Matthew 6:1-4 NIV
Glory goal…because giving God glory is what we were meant to do…Try to read Matthew 6 a few times today and really soak up our Savior’s coaching. You will walk away motivated by the holiness of God.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the joy that You give to Your “athlete” down here. I want to please You, but life gets hard and I forget the little details of Your game plan that make a difference for You in our world. Help me to remember that Your way is best and that means glorifying God, not me. You glorified God, too, in Matthew 6.You brought no glory to Yourself. You are an awesome Savior and coach. I love being on Your team! Thank You for all You do. Amen
Glory in the Morning 