Why Me…
Not what you’re thinking – no whining here. The ‘why me’ is the amaze me statement… Why did God choose me? Choose you?
It’s nothing short of amazing – me? With all my hang-ups and you with all yours? But that’s what He tells us: “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you.” (1Thessalonians 1:4 NIV) Loved by God, that’s amazing too…
I don’t know about you, but I’m not always so easy to love. I think, though, it’s in those moments He loves me most. Why? Because those moments are when I’m most vulnerable and when I most want to run and sit in His lap and have my pity party. (Not that He loves us any more or less at any given time and not that we can actually sit in His lap, but you know what I mean.)
Another amazing thing: glorious riches that He has shared with you and me. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27 NIV) That is a mystery that only those who surrender and reach for His already extended hand ever understand – and oh so rich we are.
He would like us to do a few things (but even when won’t or don’t, He still loves us)… There’s a certain way He wants us to clothe ourselves: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NIV)
I think that’s another reason He wants us reading His Word daily, because whenever I read those love words like ‘holy and dearly loved’ I really want to be the person He’s called me to be. So I guess we need to make sure we have our kindness shirt on and gentleness shoes – sure would make dealing with the hard-to-get-along-withs easier. Pull on a compassion cap and a humility purse to make sure we aren’t judging. And it couldn’t hurt to put on some patience pants, so we can sit with those things that make us most want to scream and carry on…
Best of all is this… “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” (Romans 8:33 NIV) Next time you feel unjustly, or even justly, judged or intimidated – remember, God sees His Son when He sees us and it is through His sacrifice we are justified – not our works but His.
Why me – because a great and loving God reached out and He helped me grab hold…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Best Days…
Some days are just best days…the ones where the air seems clear and the world, though not right, doesn’t seem to be crowding in…
I know we can’t live with rose colored glasses on every day, but maybe we can find a rose colored moment each day?
We live life til we’re about fifty thinking there will always be tomorrows, more chances, time to make things right. Then we hit that point and realize – ‘Hey, I’ve lived more than half my life, I may only have another fifteen to twenty birthdays.’ Suddenly the days seem to pass so quickly and we realize the moments are much more important.
Truth is our next breath isn’t guaranteed and no matter our age we need to be purposeful in our living. Living full of purpose: noticing the change of season, running outside to see the last of the sunset or the full moon rise, being grateful for the grace given each day. “From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” (John 1:16 NIV)
All is blessing because nothing is a surprise to God – He knows each of our moments, He’s ahead of them, before them, in them. We can’t wrap our minds around this but we can rest in that sovereignty. And we can rejoice because “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV)
I love that word — l a v i s h e d — bountiful, abundant, extravagant. It’s like not just dabbing a little perfume on my neck but pouring on the whole bottle – or not just greeting a loved one with a hug and kiss on the cheek but sweeping them off their feet, twirling them around, and shouting ‘I love this person’. That is God lavishing His grace on us through His Son, our Savior Jesus.
What a glorious grace, what a rose colored life we do have then, because it results in this: “Having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7 NIV) That hope, firm and secure, is ours – so all days, even the hard ones, are best days…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
What Lasts…
Strolling towards me were three tiny birds with the orangest beaks and pinkest legs. They were an inseparable trio, definitely playing follow-the-leader. Where she pecked, they pecked. She fluffed her feathers, they fluffed theirs. When she waddled off, they followed right behind.
The fact that they didn’t seem to notice me at all reminded me of how we are strongest – Jesus said “For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20 NIV) Jesus is always with His followers but when we have a friend or spouse by our side, then there’s three of us…strength in numbers.
Several years ago we owned a home in the Tennessee mountains. Shortly after moving in we met one of our neighbors who became wonderful friends going out of their way to help us on many occasions. The time came to sell our home but the friendship still continues. She recently said we will always be ‘heart neighbors’.
Our stories are always better, richer because of the lives that we intersect. Fond memories are not filled with places or things, it’s the laughter and the love of others that make them linger.
These days we have a tendency to isolate, we’re busy, there are many demands on our time. Yet I think we would all agree that although we regret times we haven’t spent with others, we never regret the times we share a meal, tell stories and laugh, celebrate life.
God made us for each other. To be solace in the hard times and part of the smiles of joyous times. When our time here is done we can’t take things with us – but we can leave behind the fragrance of our companionship and we can take with us into eternity the remembrance of a sweet soul to meet up with again someday.
“Love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1Peter 1:22 NIV) – even if it’s inconvenient…this is what lasts…
Beauty Secrets…
I watched as she made her way three rows up from where I was seated. There with her grown son and family. She was hard to miss, but not because of the world’s standards…the only hair she had left was sparse here and there, yet she wore no hat, scarf, or wig…
I’ve seen the magazine covers, been bombarded by the celebrity hype, and fell for the lie. We’ve all heard beauty is only skin deep, even that is a lie – beauty is much deeper, it is soul deep – unfading.
Have to tell you this one: Did you know that cosmetic comes from the Greek meaning to make order out of chaos? Too funny, isn’t that what we’re trying to do when we look in the mirror first thing in the morning…
We’re fussing over the outward but do we ever stop and ask: ‘God, what do You want me to look like today?’
He tells us to adorn ourselves with this “…the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1Peter 3:4 NIV) The word ‘gentle’ in this verse is translated: strength under control. Quiet in this verse is translated: tranquility from within even as the storm rages without. Then a beautiful woman is one who is strong and tranquil?
That woman is one who draws her strength from the lover of her soul and exudes her tranquility stemming from trust. Even more to consider is that God tells us this is “of great worth” in His sight. Meaning precious – and why precious? Because it is so rare, a rare beauty…
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:20 NIV) Dear friend, outwardly we are wasting away but if Christ is in our heart, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Beauty secrets? You won’t find them in the magazine or the infomercial…
The woman a few rows up radiated beauty as she sang praise to her Father, as she lifted hands and smiled, as she patted her son’s back. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2Corinthians 4:18 NIV)
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Crown Me…
Every girl loves a tiara, sparkly and brilliant…
Not many ‘queens’ left – their crowns are on display in some museum or high security place for others to ooh and aah.
One day all the crowns – be they rhinestone or diamond, be they for the prom or the monarch – will pale in comparison to what awaits the followers of the King of the universe.
“For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with salvation.” (Psalm 149:4 NIV) So many equate humble with powerlessness – but it is the humble person who shines brightest when he doesn’t have to have the spotlight, doesn’t have to receive all the recognition, stands by what he believes. The Lord delights in us, His people? Even when we blow it and even when we act anything but humble? He delights in us because we trust in His Son. Crown me – with salvation…
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1Peter 5:4 NIV) Today’s crowns fade, the prom queen gets old, the monarch leaves the crown to the next generation – everything here is temporary. Someday, a wondrous day, the One who sees us through it all, will come and a crown of glory that never fades will be ours – that glory, it is His. His glory of giving up all for those who love Him, and it is through His sacrifice we will someday shine. Crown me – with glory…
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day” (2Timothy 4:8 NIV) You, me – no righteousness to be found. All our good deeds are marred by all our less than righteous thoughts, actions, and words. Because of a Savior who was willing to give us His righteousness, God sees Him when He looks at us. So someday we need not fear the Judge, on that day our judgment will be His love. Crown me – with righteousness…
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10 NIV) Will we be faithful to the end – always standing for God no matter how unpopular that stand may be? No matter the cost of that stand? If we are, eternal life with no more struggles is ours. Crown me – with LIFE…
This Life…
There are times that mark a life – when hurricanes came and turned our lives upside down, when a loved one died, when 9/11 changed everything…
Reminders – life here is never static, always changing, growing us…temporary.
Sometimes we try to go back – back to that childhood hometown. Try to find the house we lived in, the school we went to – remembrances of days gone by. Sometimes not much has changed, sometimes places are no longer there.
There is something that never changes: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV) An unchanging Father who gives freely…
So many good and perfect gifts, not enough space to count them all. A baby’s first cry, a puppy’s slobbery kiss, a waterfall’s mist, a band on our left ring finger, oh the list is endless… Those things change and leave us with sweet memories – but they each come from the Father who sent a Savior who “…is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)
Jesus walked rough roads, laughed with delight, worked, touched lives — and then He sighed, knowing that it’s not supposed to be so hard. He gave Himself so that all that truly delights our soul can be ours today and forever.
What if we lived life like an offering, not an obsession. To pour ourselves out for use in touching another, not keeping the lid on tight. Wiping away tears, laughing til it hurts, loving til it makes a difference. These can’t be done in isolation, rather with His presence as I risk being there for those I know and love and those I don’t.
“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1John 5:11-12 NIV) If you have Him, He has you. This life – yes, in Him it’s eternal…
Be The Same…
Funny, we never see children trying to be different, unique, set apart. No, they watch what somewhat else does and then they imitate it.
I think this is what the Father who dearly loves us had in mind when He said “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.” Ephesians 5:1 NIV Instead of everyone going their own way competing to stand out and be different perhaps we are called to be the same…
This calling of the world to be your own man, to go for the gusto, to climb that success ladder – I think it’s tearing apart hearts and souls. Don’t get me wrong, we are each created with unique abilities and vulnerabilities. But instead of using our uniqueness to surpass the next person in some way, aren’t we supposed to be using it to draw each other into unity?
“Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Philippians 2:2 NIV
Be the same isn’t being like each other, it’s being like Him… Imitating His love, His forgiveness, His compassion. Yes, we each have our unique gifts but there is one purpose to them. We each have our unique personalities but there is one reason for them. We each have our unique weaknesses and strengths but there is one God who uses them…
Hebrews 13:8 NIV tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His love for us doesn’t change, His purpose for us doesn’t change, His eternity for us doesn’t change.
Today is a chance to be the same as Him – to speak hope into one who is hurting, to speak life into one who is doubting, to speak forever into one who has given up. When we do this we do become alike, after all we were created in the image of God. We become alike in mind, spirit, and purpose. We become a body who truly makes a difference because we empty ourselves and fill up others… Be the same…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Touching…Marvelous…
Watching babies once they find their hands is too fun – everything to the mouth. They don’t just want to hold the toy, the dog’s ear, their mom’s hair – they want to taste it, make it their own.
I’ll never forget my ten month old daughter discovering a furry rug her grandmother had gotten for her. Laying down on it, rolling around, she finally put her thumb in her mouth staring up in delight.
Touch, such a sweet gift — as we grow we downplay it, we don’t act on it, we hide our reaction. Cool breeze, a hug, sunshine warming away the shivers – we take these gifts for granted.
Daily we have opportunity to touch — another life with acceptance, the hurting with understanding, the lonely with our company. It’s in the touching, the reaching for another that we find our own need met. God has set eternity in our hearts and like babies we need to experience it, make it our own.
Eternity is now, not some distant time. Those who have Jesus Christ as Savior may close their eyes one final time on earth but they open them in the Savior’s arms. The first touch in ever after… If this is so, then I should touch each life I have the privilege of knowing like it matters forever…
“He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.” Psalm 98:1 NIV There are fifteen Bible verses with the word marvelous – all attributed to God’s ways and deeds. The way of a butterfly on wing, a rose that fills the room with sweetness, a swirling wind of leaves – all creation saying He is marvelous.
Sharing what He has done and touching a life with the good news of His salvation… a touch of marvelous…
What’s On Your Lips?
Some days start out with bread, peanut butter, and honey – I always find a drip left no matter how much I wipe with my napkin…Before heading out the door, I spin the tube of pink up and smooth on a smile…No easy way to enjoy the cone of frozen cream and sugar without having it smeared over my lips…
But these are the not the things that people notice on my lips…
What’s on our lips is heard more than seen. ‘Can I help you carry that?’ ‘Just calling to see how you are.’ ‘I miss you too.’
Do you watch somebody talk to you by looking in their eyes or at their lips? Maybe it’s just me but I seem to always be watching their lips. How we use our lips defines how others will be drawn to or deflected from our hearts…
Most grand is if we use our lips to glorify the One who fashioned them when He knit us together in the secret darkness of our mother’s womb. Psalm 34:1 NIV says “I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.”
Psalm 63:3 NIV is the why of His praise always being on our lips “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.”
It’s amazing how many Bible verses there are about lips – a good number of them are not how I want my lips described. Sad to say our lips don’t always appear as though we love God let alone anyone else…
So today I’m asking ‘What’s on your lips?’ Encouragement – discouragement, respect – contempt, anger – understanding, kindness – harshness, praise – apathy?
Think about this “Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.” Proverbs 20:15 NIV The knowledge of the Creator, the knowledge of extending grace, the knowledge of forgiveness, the knowledge found only in a Savior whose lips spoke ‘Forgive them’ even as He spread His arms wide with nails in hands…
May our lips have praise on them today. Here is a lovely, ethereal song – it gets stuck in my head and I am blessed…
If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
Peace Whispers…
Yesterday mama and papa bird landed outside my window to entertain me for a few minutes. His was bright red with black eyeliner. She was plumper with a brown back and blonde breast – but it was those tail feathers and beak that caught my attention…bright orangey red. Truly she looked like she kept lipstick in her nest.
I watched as they hopped around and flitted to and fro and then zoomed off as suddenly as they had arrived. It was such a vivid picture of how creation doesn’t worry or fret – daily His little critters build their nests, find their food, and show off to us…to remind us – remind us of how much beauty is all around us, how much our desire to be our own god has spoiled things, and how much He loves us that He would grace our world with such beautiful reminders…
Just before dusk the rumbling started, the sky lit up and I was called outside. Sitting on the porch I closed my eyes and listened as the rumbling got louder, increasing in frequency. As my husband joined me he pointed up high in the tree where a large bronze hawk sat keeping watch, waiting for the storm to pass. He was majestic and showed no fear. He wasn’t tucked in far amongst the branches, but rather just perched on one below a clump of leaves acting as his umbrella.
Slowly the drops began to fall and that wonderful smell that only summer rain brings made me breathe deep and exhale peace. I sat quietly…swirling breezes playing in my hair, rain coming harder, wind sweeping it down the street. Fresh, all the air was fresh. Satisfied, all the ground was satisfied. Soothed, the God who commands the storms, who pulses the lightening and rumbles His power, who provides – soothed my anxious mood.
Clouds lifted, drops became mist, the hawk took off over the rooftops. How do we in our anxious world find peace? By looking at all He has made realizing He has it all under control. Peace comes in the whispers of His assurance and the shouts of his beautiful creation…
parisrenae 