We Do Know That All Things Work For Our Good - Right?

“And we know that in all things

God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NIV

 It is an amazing day in the garden! I am feeling confident. The arrows of sin cannot touch me because I know that all things will work for my good. The flowers have never been more beautiful. I am prepared today to cut a basket full of these gorgeous blooms and place them in a treasured antique vase on my kitchen table. Life is good!

 

In my happy mood I call out to the Master Gardner and ask him to walk with me along the pathways of my heart’s garden. I begin the conversation by saying, “Thank you Lord for your promise to me that in life all I set my hand to will work for my good. I’m so glad you are on my side. Being a Christian sure does have special privileges!”

 

Then HE speaks. Jesus begins to teach me, and for a moment I feel like we are sitting on a hillside near the Mount of Olives. His words are clear, gentle, loving, and kind. “Paula, I believe you have a bit of a misunderstanding here. I did not say all things in your life will work out good.  However, I did say in all things, good or bad, I will work in your behalf so that something will happen for your good. It is more about changing who you are, into who you will become as a result of the circumstance in your life. Make no mistake my dear child; there will be plenty of trials. Bad things will happen to all mankind. This is a direct result of living in this sinful world. Remember, I have called you and you have responded to my call. It is because you belong to me that I will work in your behalf. But you must not forget that this will be done according to my purpose for you and not your purpose for yourself. This will require that you simply trust me with all that concerns you.”

 

Then Jesus takes a pocket knife out of his robe pocket and begins to cut flowers, one stem at a time. He places each freshly cut flower in my basket. Each flower is uniquely different. With the cut of each variety Jesus teaches me his amazing truth.

Without sin –

you will never know the fragrance of the French lilac of my forgiveness.

Without failure –

you will never understand the hot pink mandevilla of my mercy.

Without crisis –

you will never experience the white lily of my peace.       

Without sickness –

you will never experience the fragrant herbs of my healing.

Without unfaithfulness –

you will never experience the foxglove of my faithfulness.

 

Without imperfection –

you will never know the gardenia of my grace.

Without despair –

you will never know the hellebore of hope.

Without unhappiness –

you will never know the jasmine of my joy.

Without fear –

you will never know the tulip of trust.

Without need –

you will never know the vibrant poppy of my provision.

Without blindness –

 you will never know the freesia of faith.

Without stress –

you will never know the velvet rose of my rest.

Without disaster –

you will never know my restoration of order.

Without pain and suffering –

you will never know the salvia of my sufficiency.

Without sorrow –

you will never know the purple clematis of my comfort.

Without rejection –

you will never know the lavender of my everlasting love.

Without bondage –

you will never know the fabulous green ferns of my freedom.

Without brokenness –

you will never know the wisteria of my wholeness.

Without death –

you would never experience eternal joy.

 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

 

Here in the garden today I see in a fresh and new way that living in this fallen world is disastrous if I do not look beyond my circumstance and into the face and heart of Jesus Christ. Without him none of us will ever find meaning in life, no matter what we do, what we achieve, who we know, what we have, what we have experienced, or what we have learned. Without Jesus we will come up short. Our life basket will remain empty, void of anything that is beautiful. Void of the gifts that only Jesus can give. BUT GOD…If we have put our faith in him alone, he has promised to help those who love him. Those he has called to live according to his purposes, not ours. When we live in his love we can learn how to give thanks in all things. Not for all things, but in the midst of all things. No matter how hard our circumstance may be we can always give thanks for the fact that he is using our trial to make us into someone beautiful. He is shaping us into his image and as a result we become more like him. Playing our trials forward is scary, but in the midst of every trial God is always there to provide the strength we need to trust him without experiencing fear. Our strength comes  the very moment we need it and never before.

 

I love the words “but God”, because those two words are full of love and hope. Those words are based on the sovereignty of God. Those words are full of his compassion and mercy for mankind. Those words are bathed in the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who wants to be our Lord and Savior. Life without Jesus Christ is both meaningless and void of hope. “But God” made a way where there was no way.

 

Yes, life is hard and we often long to be free of this world and its problems. We who know him long for his return and we often wonder why it is that he is staying away so long. The answer is clear. Because of his great love for his children he waits. He desires to gather more sons and daughters into his heavenly home. It is not his will that any should perish. So he is compassionate so – he calls. He is merciful so – he waits. Never do we see his mercy more evident than in the knowledge that he is waiting to gather more of his children into his courts. Even though we long for his return, He waits and we wait with him.

 

As Jesus pointed out to me this morning, I am NOT forgotten. As I wait, God pours out his goodness in my life every day. This side of heaven he is watching over all that concerns me. His good gifts are free and are designed to make me a better person. In all things he desires to work for the higher good in my life. Yes, I do know that all things work together for my good.

 

Today the Master Gardener and I gathered a basket full of gorgeous flowers that remind me of his precious gifts. As I leave the garden, I have plans to arrange this extra special assortment of flowers in a beautiful arrangement to be displayed in full view on my kitchen table. I anticipate that this arrangement will be breathtaking! Each and every time I pass by my beautiful flowers I will remember, my Lord is in all things, always looking for ways to bring about the highest good that will accomplish his eternal purposes in my life. This knowledge will make all my challenges bearable as I wait this side of heaven for Jesus to gather more of his children into his family. There is much rejoicing in heaven every time a child comes home. There is also joy in my heart this day as I reflect on the love my Lord has for me and for all those who know him. I also rejoice with those in heaven when a new soul is redeemed!

 

Questions:

1. Have you ever misunderstood today’s verse of scripture?
2. Do you trust God to take all of the awful circumstances in your life and work through those circumstances to bring about his good in your life?
3. Have you learned the joy found in the message of “but God”…?
4. Do you love the fact that as a result of every sinful circumstance God has an amazing antidote that is wrapped in his love?  

Prayer:

 

My Father, in heaven, holy is your name,

 

Father, I pray that your kingdom will come, and that your will is being done on earth as it is in heaven. Give me today my daily bread. Forgive me my debts, and help me to forgive my debtors. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. Help me to know that his tactics are deceit, discouragement, depression, and despair, just to name a few. Forgive me when I doubt your goodness. Thank you for your amazing antidotes for all my trials. I praise you for your great love. Thank you that you are always at work in my life providing all that I need physically, mentally, and spiritually. I want to trust you completely because I know you love me. I also trust you because yours is the kingdom and glory forever.

 

Amen.

His Love Song

“The LORD you God is with you, he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

The garden path today is one of colorful delight! Shades of deep foliage surround delicate white and pink chrysanthemum. A bright red-orange Bromeliad holds its head up proud and the cheerful deep pink Kalanchoe offers a visual of delicate ambiance along the pathway. I hear the song of many birds singing back in forth in a harmony understood only by them and their Creator. My heart too is full of joy! Then in an unsuspecting moment fear begins to cloud my mood. I am not worried about anything in particular just the unknown of the future in general. In quick response I shoot up a quick arrow prayer to God’s throne of grace. My words are simple, “Father, help me!” and he does.

 

Jesus reminds me that I must never forget that he is always good. There will never be a circumstance in my life that will be void of his goodness. In all that comes my way I must seek to recognize his goodness. I stop and lean against the trunk of a beautiful red maple. I humbly bow my head, breathe in the presence of my Creator and begin to soak up his love just as the flowers soak up rain after a time of drought. As I begin to listen I hear in the distance a song. It is a love song. It is now right above my head. I look up into the tree and there sits the Master Gardener, perched on a limb. To my amazement he is singing over me a beautiful song about his amazing love for me. I know in this moment he is also rejoicing over me because of the twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his face.

 

I close my eyes and I begin to listen. Every note is clear, mellow, and beautiful! The lover of my soul has perfect pitch and impeccable timing. I feel my shoulders begin to relax and I find that I am totally immersed as I listen to the poetic lyrics as they flow like the sweetest of honey, as he sings of his great love for me.

 

As I listen to his joyful, quick moving allegro and I am amazed at the sure precision with which he sings. My sweet Savior never misses a note or a beat. As he continues to sing his words of love he escalates into the loudest crescendo of love that I have ever heard and then gradually decrescendos into the softest melody of care and concern for me and all that concerns me.

 

My Lord sings above the heights of an Irish tenor and below the depths of the deepest bass in a gospel quartet. I am reminded of how high and deep the Father’s love is for me. This endless song goes on and on. The refrain is always the same, “I have loved you with an everlasting love”. Yes, today I hear it loud and clear. Oh, that I would hear his song everyday!

 

My time in the garden today has been extraordinary! When I reflect on what the Holy Spirit has taught me today I am feel deeply loved.  Trusting God is an awesome way to live. I know that his word is true because my God cannot lie. “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV Because I belong to him, he takes great delight in me and rejoices over me today and everyday with singing. Even on days with my needs are great, my faith is weak, and my thoughts, deeds, and words are sinful, he is the same. My faithful God is always above me singing of his love for me. He is my hope for today and all my tomorrows.

 

Questions:

1. How does it make you feel to know that God rejoices over you with singing?
2. Are you willing to listen to his love song?
3. Will you take time today to sing back to him a happy song of praise and worship that is full of your words of love and gratitude for all he has done, is doing this day, and will ever do for you?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

 

Today my prayer is simple. Thank you for the amazing gift of your beautiful, encouraging love song. Forgive me when I become so self-absorbed that I forget to listen for your song of love. Lord, you are marvelous and greatly to be praised because of your everlasting love. How wonderful it is to realize that every day you rejoice over all your children with singing.

 

In your name I pray. Amen.

Singing In the Rain and Dancing In The Storm

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt,”

Jeremiah 31:3-4 NIV

Whatever has always been is not always what may be. This has been my experience this year. I have always been blessed with good health but this year God has reminded me that I am indeed made of dust and someday I will return to dust. My sister, Lou, often reminds me that growing old is NOT for sissies. I am beginning to agree with her. However, she has modeled for me an inner strength in the storms of her life that far surpasses any weakness that she could possibly ever experience. She may be my sister but she is in no way a sissy! Gratitude and grace define her outlook on life. Her trust in God is simple and sure. I am blessed that God placed her in my life as a very real example of how our health can crumble but God provides all that we need and is always more than enough.

 

Health issues seem to test people’s faith in amazing ways. I believe this is true because we are forced to face our own mortality. I am pretty sure that when a positive diagnosis is given to any of us from our doctor it is never well received. Even if we are a “triple-ripple” Christian with the highest marks possible from those in our circle of Christian friends, we are still vulnerable and open game for Satan and his demons as we begin the process of digesting our news and choosing to trust God.

 

On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst news possible, the condition of our health is still our own personal news, it is our road to travel, and it is our thoughts that have to be reconciled. I’m pretty sure there will always be others who have it worse than us and many we know will seemingly have it better. No matter where we are in our health journey, gratitude is always a good place to start. We can be thankful for our current blessings, our blessing of the past, our spiritual blessings, and our hope for the future.

 

This year my news was not so good. Yes, it could have been so much worse, but the simple fact remained, God allowed me to experience a bump in my otherwise smooth road and I found that I had choices to make. Fear was a possibility, but not a healthy option. Anger was also something to briefly consider, but was not in my best interest. Throwing a pity-party for myself and inviting all those around me to attend was also something to be considered. But the time and energy necessary for that would use up all my time and I would miss sitting with Jesus and hearing his words of comfort and feeling his love. I chose to sing in the rain and dance in the storm! My dancing partner is none other than Jesus and what a wonderful partner he has been over the past weeks.

 

The beautiful thing about Jesus is when we regularly spend time with him we are already comfortable in his presence. We are accustomed to him leading, so now having him lead in and through the storm is not unfamiliar to a follower of Jesus Christ. We have already learned to sing with him in the rain and now the storm is the perfect place for dancing.

 

I love this imagery of dancing because I find that I am never alone. It is in the storm of life that he may seem closer than ever before. This is a dance to savor. I am reminded that my partner is to be trusted because he leads joyfully in love with heavenly rhythm, precision, and accuracy. Draw near to him in the dance and he will whisper sweet promises in your ear that will assure you of his sovereignty, and his unchanging and everlasting love.

 

I for one want to sing the praises of my partner. It was in the weeks prior to my diagnosis that it seemed to me that God was preparing me for an opportunity to trust him. After my diagnosis he surrounded me with my wonderful husband, my children, other family members, and friends who became his messengers of love. It seemed that God really prepared the way as I discovered wonderful doctors and others who touched me in unexpected ways. I must admit I do not take help from others very well. I have always been on the giving end not the receiving end. But oh the joy I would have missed if God had not allowed me to experience this bump in my road. Prayers, cards, flowers, gifts, meals, encouragement, phone calls, e-mails, and tender touches that all said I love you and I care. Please know that if you are in a new place of loss, Jesus loves you too.

 

At the onset of my breast cancer walk God gave me a verse of encouragement to carry me through this time when life has slowed me down a bit. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt,” Jeremiah 31:3-4 NIV Even though those words were written for Israel, I believe God spoke those same words to me as well.  It turns out that my prognosis is extremely good, but there were times early on when I was not sure and decisions had to be made. It was a scary time and it was not convenient, BUT God was with me. He continues to be with me, and he will be with me always. I know that in this situation God walked before me. He prepared the way even before I knew what was ahead. He continues to stand with me and surrounds me with his people.

 

At this time it seems that things will be ending well, but I know that there will come a time when my earthly life will be over. That is why when things are going well I need to take heed and stock up on God’s Word. I need to meet with Jesus daily in a quiet place. I need to trust God with my life everyday. I need to remember how wonderful it is to sing with Jesus in the sunshine and in the rain. I need to store up all his promises. I need to do all these things so when the next test comes I will choose to cling to his promises and dance with Jesus in the storm.

 

I hope I will always remember to never underestimate the severity of whatever it is I am going through because it is my crisis and there are hard choices to be made. I also want to remember to never overestimate how difficult I think my circumstance is because I don’t have to look very far to see others who are suffering more. When I am vulnerable I must simply lean into the arms of Jesus and yes, try to find joy in the dance and always practice gratitude even in my moments of greatest need. I know that Satan preys on the weak and the strong. His mind games are the greatest battle I will ever face. I must remember to rebuke him out loud in the name of Jesus Christ and he will flee.

 

Life is always going to be far from perfect. I want to praise the One who holds my future and allows me to sing with him in the rain and dance with him in the storm!

 

Questions:

1. Are you going through a time of testing?
2. Is the storm in your life about to get you down?
3. Are you afraid?
4. Do you see that you always have a choice to either dance in the storm or let the waves of fear and anger destroy you?
5. Do you receive strength and joy knowing that Jesus is your dancing partner in the midst of your storm?
6. Can you remember a time in the past when Jesus sang with you in the sunshine and in the rain?
7. Does that give you courage for dancing in the storm now?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

 

Today I just want to praise you because of your greatness. You are high and lifted up above all others. You are acquainted with pain, sorrow, loss, and grief. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made and you know every cell in my body. I praise you because you provide amazing promises for me to cling to every day and in my darkest night. I praise you because underneath me are your everlasting, loving arms. I praise you because you love me enough to trust me with an opportunity to trust you. I praise you because you send your heavenly and earthly angels to do your work in my behalf. I praise you because down the road things may not go so well, but because of my current experience I will know of your amazing love that will carry me even when things turn out to be less than what I had hoped for. I praise you because this world in not my final home. I praise you because my hope for my future is firmly rooted in heaven. Yes, Jesus, I praise you!

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen.

The Glue That Holds It All Together

“Humble yourselves

under the mighty hand of God,

that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your care upon Him,

for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV

Today in the garden I am a bit weary. Today for some reason, the beautiful golden Rudbeckia looks a little paler than usual. I guess it is true that much of what we see is in the eye of the beholder. If our mind is fuzzy, our heart heavy, or our vision clouded because of personal burdens and concerns we see life as overwhelming and the beauty that surrounds us dims as we seek ways to hold together all that we feel is falling apart.

 

Fathers are always concerned regarding the provision and the well being of their family. His hunter, warrior nature makes him passionate for the provision and protection of those he loves. A father often separates himself from his family in order to provide. Father’s are sometimes accused of being absent; when in fact their concern for their family is huge. The harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they earn, the better they can provide for their family.

 

On the other hand, most mothers are always trying to fix what is broken. A mother’s nurturing nature wants to mend broken hearts, fix an emotional crisis, bandage up wounded spirits, nurse sick children, fill empty cupboards, put back together failed relationships, encourage a discouraged spouse, help children change poor grades, and referee all family fights. Even when our children leave home some of these things remain in the heart of a mother. For some reason we believe that we are the glue that holds it all together.

 

Truth be known, God gave every child a mother to care for, guide, teach, and nurture them. He also designated a wife to be the helpmate to her husband. But I have found that when I try to shoulder this responsibility alone my bottle of glue becomes extremely heavy! By nature we women are fixers. Often our need to fix another’s problem is not received well. It has been my experience, that when my overtures of offering to apply the glue of my knowledge  is declined, I feel rejection. Even when my adhesive is love-based it may not always be received well. Often the score of my success rate in helping those I love is zero to none! I find that when this happens my spirit is crushed, I become weary and often fearful for the one who is experiencing the difficult time. At times I become angry when someone I love won’t allow me to do my job. After all, I am a master fixer and what good is a full bottle of glue without something or someone to repair? Being the fixer can be a curse!

 

Today as I am walking in the garden, I can’t help observing the sad black eyes of the pale Rudbeckia. The sad little faces on these flowers remind me of the faces of so many people I know and love. Some are family members others are close friends. My burden for each one of them is heavy. But the Master Gardener has a fix. Not for them but for me. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV

 

God's Word tells us that we are to humble ourselves before God and cast our cares on him. He will glue our broken heart, lift our head, soothe our painful concerns and reassure us that he loves those we love more than we do. Our prayer must simply be, “Lord, I trust you with         ____________.” Of course, we can never be certain of how someone will respond to God, but we can be sure beyond the shadow of a doubt that God hears our prayer, he will convict if need be, he will send other people to the side of those we love, he will provide opportunity for them to respond to him, he will call them, he will intercede in prayer for them, and he always stands ready to receive them when they humbly reach up and take his hand.

 

Leaving the garden gate I simply pray, “God I trust you with ___________.” As I glance over my shoulder for one last look at the Rudbeckia, their sunny little heads now seems brighter! This is a very visible sign to me that my God is on the job. I can rest in him because I have cast my cares on Him. I can now pray confidently because I know that God is on the job. I pray and he glues and fixes all those who will come to him. There may still be cracks and scares of brokenness and sorrow but God is able to put together that which we thought was beyond repair. My job is not to glue but rather pray and trust the Father.

 

As God leads me, I will continue to apply the glue of love and encouragement to those whose hearts will receive me. In addition, I will always make sure that the glue I use will have that “extra ingredient” of me trusting God as I bring my cares and concerns to him regarding the ones I love. You see, God is the glue that holds our lives together and he uses us to do his work of applying the glue of his love and displaying his grace.

 

Questions:

1. Do you sometimes feel that you have too many people to care for?
2. Do you feel burdened by the needs of others?
3. Are you a fixer?
4. What are the dangers of you trying to meet everyone’s needs alone?
5. Have you considered casting your cares on Jesus?

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Forgive me for bearing my burdens alone. Help me not to rush ahead of you in my attempts to help and mend those I love. Yes, moms are the glue that holds the family together but help me to remember that I was never meant to work alone. Jesus, help me to cast my cares on you everyday because you care for me and you also care for those I love and cherish. Jesus, today I trust you with ___________, and ________, and __________.

 

In your name I pray. Amen

The Lifter of My Head

“I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high”

Leviticus 26:13 NIV

 

I love going early to the garden. I love going midday to the garden and I love going to the garden in the evening. For me the garden is such a place of beauty. Today is no exception. The azaleas are especially pretty this time of year. Some of the azaleas bloom early in April and still others flaunt their beautiful bonnets on into May. They add striking bursts of color to the shaded garden. There is such a variety of color among the azaleas. Blooms of soft pastel pink graduate to a vibrant hot pink punctuating the garden landscape. Creamy peach blossoms and deep melon blooms welcome all who will pause to enjoy their beauty. Pure white, lavender, and deep purple accentuate this color palette with royal beauty. But my all-time favorite is a deep pink azalea that always makes me say, “Beautiful, just beautiful!” The garden is not only a place of beauty, it is also a place of amazing hope!

 

Even when we know the Lord, life has a way of pulling us down. It seems I often forget that I am a jar of clay, fragile and easily shattered. Joy can rule deep within my heart because of the constant love of Jesus. Yet, emotions are all up and down the chart when it comes to external happiness.

 

When those we care about suffer, we feel sad and helpless. When the weather is dull and drab for days we can become unmotivated and depressed. Overload at work sometimes makes us feel that we have been taken advantage of and dumped on. Prolonged physical problems leave us feeling weak and weary. Other times our plans must be changed and we feel disappointed.

 

Sometimes our emotions push us to an entirely different level. The words of another have wounded us. Negative comments and judgmental opinions of others directed toward us can crush our spirit and break our heart. At time we feel unappreciated and devalued. We long to hear words from another that let us know they love us, respect us, value us, cherish us, and support us. Unfortunately, in many cases those words never come.

 

Ever so often we walk into a situation that leaves us totally broken. It is a “yoke” of loss that is next to unbearable. But this too is a time when God wants to draw us near and lift our heads. We can depend on God to come through for us and heal our broken heart. “I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high” Leviticus 26:13 NIV

 

There is so much hope to be experienced when we go to the garden of our heart and sit at the feet of Jesus.  Second Corinthians 7:6 says, “But God, who comforts the downcast…” God is the lifter of my head. No matter what is going on in your life there is still hope. The very words “but God” is the precursor to hope. It is God who is able to bring comfort to my wounded emotions, my downcast spirit, and my broken heart. The Psalmist asks,” Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. “Psalm 42:5 NIV

 

There is absolutely no better remedy for raw emotions, hurt feelings, a downcast spirit, disturbing events in life, or a broken heart than to sit for a spell in the garden with the Lord. Enter the garden, look over the fence and lift up your eyes to the hills. Feasting on the mountains will work just as well and without a doubt you will find help, strength, comfort, healing, and peace. Allow the Lord to lavish his love upon you. He will take your face in his hands and lift your head. He will dry your tears and fill you with his joy. He will minister to you and give you both help and hope. “I Lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

 

You will eventually leave the garden and go back to the same circumstance that sent you here in the first place, but now you will feel different because you are filled with hope. You can face today, tomorrow, and the days ahead because the Maker of heaven and earth will sustain you.

 

Circumstances seldom change but our outlook regarding those circumstances does change. Time spent in honest prayer before the Lord will always lift you higher. Jesus will whisper words into your thoughts and tell you where you need to change and what you must overlook. He will teach you about compassion and mercy and you will be able to graciously move on. I love so much that Jesus is the lifter of my head! What a verbal picture of what it is that my Lord is able to do for me.

 

Questions:

1. Are you currently walking around despondently looking at you toes?
2. Are you going through your day with your chin up but your spirit crushed?
3. Are you hiding behind a fake smile as you go about daily responsibilities, yet when you are alone you cry?
4. Are you one of those tough guys who never cries but yet you contemplate ways to escape the heaviness that sits on your spirit?
5. Are you in need of hope?
6. When was the last time you went alone to the garden so that Jesus Christ could lift your head?
7. Is there a better solution? I think not.

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

How is it possible that my hope for eternal life is sure because I am your child and yet, not always, but sometimes I feel hopeless about the events surrounding my life? Forgive me when I allow people to bring me down. Forgive me when I forget to ask you to lift my head. I confess that most days are good, yet sometimes when I least expect it, Satan catches me off guard and tries to drag me into dark moments. But you Lord are the light of my life and my salvation. Who shall I fear? Who shall steal my joy? Your Word is a lamp into my feet and a light unto my path. You allow sadness but lace it with comfort. You allow others to speak hurtful words, but you redirect me to your Word. You take my overload and help me to set priorities and simplify my life. You show me the difference between what the world says is important and what you say is eternal. I thank you Lord for always standing near. How amazing that you are indeed only a prayer away. This day I choose you over discouragement, depression, despair, disgrace, and discontentment. With all my heart, I thank you Jesus that you are the lifter of my head.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen

Glorious Hope!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here; he has risen!”

Luke 24:5b-6a NIV

I know lots of people who say Christmas is their favorite holiday, but not me. I love Easter because it is full of wonderful eternal hope!

When I was a child I use to wonder every Easter why “Good Friday” was called good. From my childish perspective people being mean to Jesus was not a good thing! What an incredible blessing it is that God can take our childish faith and over the years of walking with him he can open our eyes to the understanding of spiritual things and teach us His wonderful truth.

One of the things I love most about having God in my life is that when I look back over the years I see over and over again how God has continually drawn me to himself. I see how he has put people in my path, how he has led me from place to place and church to church. Each and every time I believe that the things that happened to me during that time was neither luck nor coincidence, but it was a divine appointment for me to encounter more of God as I continued my walk of faith. It was during these times that God was faithful to take my childish lack of understanding that comes from a secular world’s mindset and lead me into spiritual understanding of his truth. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” I Corinthians 13:11 NIV

You see, “Good Friday” is indeed good because it is the event that gives believers GLORIOUS HOPE for the future. Jesus is risen! Because Jesus has conquered death and is no longer in the tomb we are the recipients of a glorious eternal hope! “For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18 NIV

I am grateful for the biblically recorded accounts of those who walked with Jesus and witnessed seeing him after the resurrection. Upon seeing the Lord Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.” Mary Magdalene cried, “I have seen the Lord.” John testifies that, “We have seen his glory.” Peter reports, “We are eyewitnesses to his majesty.” The cry of many of Jesus’ followers on that first Easter was, “He is risen, He is risen indeed!” These reports give us glorious hope! I thank God for the numerous eyewitness reports.

And now I ask you, what is more beautiful than an Easter sunrise? Throughout our life we may witness many magnificent sunrises but none can compare to the spectacular beauty of an Easter sunrise that is full of eternal hope! Sunrises and sunsets are both fabulous feasts for our eyes. I also believe that sunrises and sunsets are God’s unique way of reminding us in every morning sunrise of his resurrection. In every beautiful sunset God ends our day with a visual of his faithfulness both now and forever.

It is wonderful to know that this life is not all there is. Someday we too will behold Jesus Christ. What a day that will be! In addition, we will also see all the believers who have preceded us to heaven. The opposite side of this is no hope at all. Life without Jesus is hopeless. “Hope deferred makes a heart sick…” Proverbs 13:12 NIV

Jesus died on “Good Friday” to give us glorious hope in this life and throughout eternity. I challenge you to accept this hope and to teach it to your children and your grandchildren. Share this message with your co-workers and your neighbors. Meditate on this glorious hope each and every time you see an awesome sunrise and praise God for his love and faithfulness every time you witness a beautiful sunset. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV Our glorious hope for our eternal heavenly future is what makes life worth living. He is risen! He is risen indeed! This is our glorious hope!

Questions:

Do you personally know the joy of this glorious hope?

Is there anything in this life that is more hopeful, more dependable?

What does this glorious hope mean to you?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much that I have a glorious hope because you conquered the grave. I am filled with joy at the prospect of living with you forever and with the hope of seeing again my loved ones who have died knowing you as their personal Savior. Help me Lord not to keep this good news to myself but help me to be bold and share this amazing hope with those you put in my path. Thank you for pursuing me and for continuing to open my childish eyes to new truth every day.

In your name I pray. Amen.

The December Garden

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Jeremiah 32: 27 NIV

It is important to remember that if you are entering the garden in December you will not experience the delicate blossoms of spring time, or the deep intense colors that grace the flowers of summer. You will not see the warm hues of autumn, and if you live in the south you most likely will not delight in the beauty of evergreens and dark tree bark contrasting against the freshly fallen, pure white snow of winter.

No, sadly to say, the December garden treasures are few and far between! At first glance the garden may seem unattractive and like a place that you would not want to go or spend much time. But what a perfect reminder of hope we find in the December garden. Even though the December garden is bleak and unproductive, we can still find hopeful joy in the red Holly berries and the clusters of rich orange berries that hang off of the Heavenly Bamboo bushes. As I focus on this touch of elegant color I am thankful for this small amount of December beauty and I remain sure that spring will follow winter.

Just like the December garden, at times my life can seem to be bleak and unproductive. I can become frustrated and restless. During the winters months I can experience a seasonal depression. My cure for the winter blahs is to seek God and allow him to align his spirit to mine. I also plan projects and busy myself with things that I do not have time for during the beautiful spring, summer and fall months.

In our humanness, we long for perfection and peace, yet often it is elusive. At times our frustration gives way to discouragement and hopelessness. Our emotions can spike in the glory of a wonderful moment in time and then quickly crash in the reality of life.

I am so glad that I have discovered that the acceptance of a higher power is what gives me strength and hope. I am also learning that practicing daily surrender of myself to God is the pathway to inner peace. Even during the winter months I can find God’s beauty in the garden of my heart.

If you know Jesus Christ personally, the December garden is a beautiful reminder that with God all things are possible and nothing is too hard for the creator of the universe. Over the next few weeks I hope that you will hang in there and continue to read my devotionals each week. It will be amazing to watch the garden of your heart take shape and become a place of breathless beauty.

Questions:

Do you long for inner peace?

Are you struggling with a difficult circumstance in your life?

Do your problems overwhelm you?

Is there a place in your heart’s garden that is calling you to surrender and trust God for the impossible?

Prayer:

Dear God,

You never promised us that life would be perfect. In fact your Word tells us that in this life we will experience trouble. Thank you Father that you offer to us wisdom, love, peace, hope and joy in the midst of every difficulty. Help me to seek you in all things. You have promised me that if I will seek you and your ways I will find you. Thank you for this promise.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.