Love is in the Air

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11 NIV

Valentine’s Day can conjure up all kinds of emotions. Sad feelings of a lost love, a love that is yet to be experienced, or a current love that brings with it immense happiness. Even as a child I remember decorating Valentine boxes at school. The most popular children received Valentines from everyone in the class, other children got a fair amount, and still others got precious few. Unlike God, we are very selective in who we choose to love. As a result we base our self worth on how many valentines we get, how we look, what we do compared to what others do, or how much we have.

As Valentine’s Day draws near we are inundated with perfume and jewelry ads on television. But today I am reminded that God’s Word says it very simply. The very best Valentine we can give to another person is “A word appropriately spoken.” This verse further explains that this word, this compliment, this encouragement is like golden apples set in beautiful silver!

This morning I am imagining that today when I go out to my mail box and open it out will spill hundreds of red, pink and white valentines in all shapes and sizes. They will be flying everywhere. Some I will be able to retrieve and others will fly away unread. The Bible, God’s Word to you and I is that mailbox. When we open up the Bible there are hundreds of wonderful valentines that will fly out as you read and study. These are your personal Valentines straight from the heart of God. They will remind you of God’s love for you. They will encourage you because they will be a word aptly spoken. These Valentines will give you self worth because they will remind you of who you are in Christ Jesus!

Over the years God has given me many wonderful Valentines from his Word. These valentines are the scriptures that have taken root deep in my heart and will remain there forever! Many of those verses were given to me in times of darkness and despair. Others were given just too simply delight my spirit. Still others remind me of something that God has promised me. God has also given me valentine scriptures of hope and assurance for myself and for those I love. Today I am thinking that it is no coincidence that I have underlined in my Bible each of these “God Valentines” and drawn a small heart next to that verse. As I read my Bible, again and again I am drawn to these special verses revealed to me by the Holy Spirit. As I re-read these scriptures time and time again, God always brings to mind exactly where I was in my life when I received his valentine of love to me, and I am reminded of why I was in need of that special valentine. Yes, these loving words are among my finest pieces of jewelry. They are indeed apples of gold in fine settings of silver. They always remind me of my self worth. They tell me of who I am in Christ Jesus, and they remind me of the faithfulness of the lover of my soul. Yes, God’s love for you and me is in the air. In fact it is the very air we breathe!


Questions:

When was the last time you spoke a word to another person that was appropriate for them as a source of encouragement in their time of need?

Can you remember a time when someone spoke a word to you that you still cherish in your heart?

Has God given you Valentines from his Word that he sent specifically for you?

What are those verses and how do those verses still make you feel?


If you have not had a Valentine from the Word of God, begin reading his Word regularly and pray that God’s Holy Spirit will help you find those verses meant just for you. Be patient as you read. Do not seek the verse, rather seek the giver of the verse and you will be amazingly surprised when the Valentine comes. It will be a Valentine that you will cherish forever and ever.


Prayer:

Dear God,

I thank you for the Bible, your Holy Word to humanity. I admit that there have been times that I did not understand your Word because I did not know you. I confess that there have been times that I have not made reading your Word a priority. I am thankful that somehow in your divine plan for my life you continue to draw me back again by giving me a desire to read and understand your Word. I thank you for the opportunity to understand your Word through listening to ministers and Bible teachers. You have said if we seek you we will find you. Help me God to seek to know you through reading your precious Word. Help me to find those Valentines that you have for me to treasure and store up in my heart forever.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.

I Stand Joyfully Amazed

“My prayer is not for them alone.

I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message.”

John 17:20 NIV

Today I am sitting in my garden looking down at the word “JOY” engraved on a stone along the garden path. On this winter morning, not much is blooming and it is a bit chilly but my spirit is soon to be warmed by the memory of a time when I was joyfully amazed! It was the first time that I experienced joy while reading the Bible. I was reading in the book of John. The setting was in the upper room right before Jesus was about to go out and experience the dreaded agony of Gethsemane and the cross.

Jesus began to pray. First of all he prayed for himself. He prayed to his Father saying, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” John 17:1 NIV Jesus prayed that his obedience to the will of the Father would bring glory to God the Father. Jesus was all about pleasing his Father!

Then Jesus prayed for his disciples, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:1 NIV Jesus prayed that God would protect the disciples from the evil one and that God would purify them through the truth of his words. Of all the things that Jesus could have prayed for the disciples, like health, wealth, and power, he simply did not. Instead he prayed for what he knew to be important. Jesus’ prayer for them was for protection from Satan and that they would always know God’s truth and that by accepting that truth they would be able to live a sanctified life even in the midst of life surrounded by trouble.

Then Jesus prayed for all believers, “…I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, …May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me.” John 17:20, 21b NIV Jesus prayed for all future believers, that through the message of the disciples they would be brought into complete unity. Why? To let the world know that God sent Jesus and that Jesus loves them in the same way God loves Jesus. It was easy for me to see that Jesus loved his disciples but it was hard for me to wrap my mind around the full extent of Jesus’ love for me! The truth is Jesus loves me and you in the very same way that God loves him. Jesus prayed that you and I would know his amazing love for each one of us!

I cannot tell you the joy that I felt when that spiritual truth soaked deep into my heart. Up until that time Jesus was just kind of out there. I had accepted him into my life but there was still an impersonal relationship between me and the “Holy God.” Until that day I was not aware of the fact that Jesus is very personal. Jesus is so personal that he prayed for me personally more than 2000 years ago! Even before I was born, Jesus Christ prayed for me! When I realized that the “they” in that scripture included me I was moved to tears. I now understood the heart of Jesus through this scriptural prayer. The content of this prayer filled me with supernatural joy! Talk about a rush! The God of the universe had now become very personal to me. I have read this story many, many times since that first reading, and each and every time as I read it I am again touched. I still continue to stand joyfully amazed that Jesus prayed for me personally even before I was born.

I cannot say it enough. God is interested in each one of us on a very personal level. He not only wants us to receive him as our Savior, he also wants to be our personal friend, our helper, and our intercessor in prayer before the throne of God.

I am a little taken back when I realize that Jesus is praying for me this day and everyday. He always has and he always will pray that I will be in complete unity with him and the Father. He wants my actions and words to mirror his love. When that happens I become a witness to others of his amazing love for all of humanity. As believers we have a message of truth to deliver. Jesus continues to pray that others will hear the message and come to know him through the message that he asks each of us to deliver to all those he has given to us.


Questions:

Has God ever spoken to you through his Word?

What was the message of that scripture?

Did you have a sense that those words were written just for you?

As a result, did you stand joyfully amazed?

Who are the people that are within your sphere of influence that God has given to you?

What does God want you to share? Your faith? A word of encouragement? A prayer?


Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for your Word. I pray that you will continue to speak personally to me through your Word. Thank you for the happiness and the joy that you bring to my life through the revelation and understanding of your Word. I stand joyfully amazed to know that you prayed for me before even one day of my life began. I am so glad that you felt it was important for me to know how much I am loved by you. Thank you for praying for me 2000 years ago and that you continue to intercede for me before the throne of your Heavenly Father. Help me to share with the ones that you have given me, your love for each one of them.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Serendipity

“Every good and perfect gift

is from above,

coming down from the father

of the heavenly lights…”

James 1:17a NIV

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over and the reality of winter sets in I often suffer from seasonal depression. I think it is partly because I love light and color so much. My gardens are dull, the sky is often gray, the trees are bare and it’s cold! Sometimes the sunshine is scarce for many days.

Some people love winter because of skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice-skating, building snowmen and making snow angels. They look forward to snow days that cancel work and school, a crackling fire in the fireplace, and a cup of hot chocolate! I like all of that too, but sometimes that is not reality and the gray days must be dealt with.

All of us are busy keeping our job, maintaining our home, and caring for our family. All of these responsibilities mixed with the limitations and drabness of winter can get us down. Adding children to that mix takes most of your thought time and your energy giving you less time to even realize that you are depressed, if you are! If you are a woman, there is also the chance that your hormones are raging! If you are a man you may get the back lash of those raging hormones! Just in case any of you readers are sharing my feelings about the winter blues or if you are having any other emotional instability that is threatening your well being, here are a few ideas that may help you combat the very real attack

During times of feeling downhearted I try to focus on spending additional time in God’s Word and investing in my relationship with Jesus. I also look for opportunities to touch base with friends and send notes of encouragement. Taking the time to think of another person is always beneficial to my mental health. During the winter months I typically schedule those projects that I don’t have time for during the other seasons. I also try to make some time to catch up on some of the things that I enjoy such as writing, scrapbooking, reading, and planning my garden for next spring.

But during the down days of winter or even dog days of summer, or any other time that you seem to be depressed or restless in your spirit, the never fail “Serendipity List” is always an emotional booster! Webster’s dictionary defines serendipity as “The gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.”

When I begin to make a “Serendipity List” I start early in the day, right after I pour myself a cup of coffee. Now with pen and paper in hand I head for my favorite chair and begin the “Serendipity List.” I write down all of the wonderful things that have already happened to me on this not so glorious day! As the day moves along I carefully list all of the valuable and agreeable things not sought for that began showing up in my life as soon as I woke up that morning.

At the top of my list I make note of the amazing feeling that I have because I am rested. I write down the absolutely beautiful full moon that is lighting up the backyard in the pre-dawn sky. As morning arrives I notice the way that the light filters through the trees. This too must go on the list. I jot down the enjoyment I get out of my first cup of coffee. Other things worth putting on the “Serendipity List” are the first kiss of the day when my husband comes over and says good morning. Later on is the refreshing hot shower that I am privileged to enjoy. As the day progresses it is a phone call from my son. It is also watching two squirrels scampering in a chase up one side of the tree and down the other. It is listening to my husband talk to his granddaughter on the phone. It is connecting with an old friend. Serendipity is hearing my daughter tell a funny story about my grandson. It is receiving an encouraging note in the mail. It is the happiness that I find in making a hot pot of steaming soup for us to enjoy at dinner on a cold winter day. In the evening it is the feel of crisp clean sheets as I climb into bed. But most of all it is feeling the love of God as I lay down to sleep. It is having a peace that passes all understanding even in difficult times; it is the joy of Jesus that is indescribable.

Yes indeed, the “Serendipity List” is food for the emotionally unstable depressed soul. It is acknowledging all of the wonderful valuable things that have happened to me throughout that day that I didn’t even ask for or seek out. Yes they are gifts, his amazing gifts from above. I guess the “Serendipity List” is just another way of counting my blessings. I must pay better attention to the small things in life because I don’t want to miss a single gift tomorrow!

If you are reading this and you are struggling to find even your basic needs met, I pray that you will pray and ask God to comfort, protect, and provide for you. God loves you and wants to show you his love. Look up, look down, look all around and ask God to show you something that he has made that will delight your heart. Receive comfort and hope in knowing that God loves you and he hears all who pray.


Questions:

1. Are you feeling low, downcast, or depressed?

2. Have you ever made a Serendipity List?

3. Do you think it could be a beneficial exercise in recognizing God’s love for you?

4. Today are you experiencing the love, peace, and joy that can come only from God?

If not, simply bow your head in prayer right now and ask God to take your feelings of depression and in its place give you his love, peace and joy.


Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I need for you to show me your love for me this day. The truth is, you do show me your love everyday, yet somehow some days I seem to be so self-absorbed that I miss your love for me completely! I pray that this day I will rejoice in your serendipity gifts! I am thanking you in advance for all of your good and perfect heavenly gifts. Father, please keep me from being caught up in seeking your gifts but rather may I be drawn to you, the giver of all gifts. I especially thank you for all of the delightful surprises found in the gifts that you consider to be of valuable and delightful importance. Just as I love to give good gifts to my children, I know that you love giving good gifts to me. Thank you Father, you make me smile!

In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Delight Me Lord

“How priceless is your unfailing love…
you give them drink from your river of delights.”

Psalm 36:7a-8b

I was very surprised to learn that the God of the universe wants to delight me! I was specifically created to bring pleasure to God but nevertheless, he enjoys delighting me. I have found that if I pay attention I will see more of the delights that God has for me.

This morning I awoke very early. The dawn was just lighting up the back yard. As I lay in bed a thought kept popping into my head. It seemed that the voice was soft; in fact it was no louder than a thought. The voice was saying, “Paula, get up I want to delight you.” I rolled over, snuggled under the covers, and tried to get back to sleep but the voice kept saying, “Paula, get up I want to delight you.” So finally, I gave in. I sat up and put on my furry slippers, grabbed my comfortably, worn robe and headed for the great room.

I glanced over to the windowed wall that provides a magnificent view of our wooded back yard. Ahhhhhh yes! To my utter surprise, there was my delight! While I was sleeping, God was busy dusting the entire backyard in a wet clinging, brilliantly white snow. The contrast of the pure white snow against the dark bark of the naked trees provided an incredible winter wonderland. The snow clung to the huge cedars, the evergreens, the bushes, and the picket fence. The yard itself was covered in God’s beautiful blanket of snow.

This was not a deep snow, only about an inch or two and I have learned that snow here in the North Carolina piedmont can be completely melted by early afternoon. No wonder God was nudging me out of my warm bed. If I had delayed I might have missed out on the delight that God had for me this day.

I poured myself a steaming mug of coffee, curled up in my chair, and began to enjoy the delight that God had sent to me. In a very few minutes more delights began to arrive as several bright red cardinals ate their breakfast from our feeder. It really was Christmas card perfect!

A little later my husband emerged from our bedroom and I shared my story with him. He grinned and accused me of selfishly keeping all of my delights to myself! But there was still time and God delighted him as well. God’s priceless unfailing love never tires of blessing his children from his endless river of delights.

I use to feel that God was too busy for me. That he was off somewhere far away where he was busy dealing with the really big stuff in life. I wasn’t even sure that God knew my name. I had received his gift of salvation but I really didn’t want to bother him with my insignificant life. But over the years God has blessed and delighted me in so many ways even without me asking. I have now come to know that my God is a God of surprises! He makes my life full and interesting. Some days God blesses me so much that I feel like I’m his only child. My God cares for me so much that he even wakes me up so that he can delight me the very first thing of the morning. Incredible! Simply incredible!

Questions:

Do you know that God loves and cares for you as if you were his only child?

Has God ever delighted you?

What was the occasion that you experienced His delight?

Have you ever told him thank you for the amazing delights that he brings into your life?

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you that you are such a personal God. I am flabbergasted that your love goes so deep that you desire to delight your children. Thank you for the many delights that you send my way. Help me God to be alert and observant so that I see all of the delights that you have for me. I don’t want to miss a single delight! I thank you God for the very visible pleasures that you send my way because they assure me of your unfailing love for me. How blessed I am that you desire to delight me.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.

Simplicity

“…and he sent them out. He told them:

“Take nothing for the journey – no staff,
no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.”

Luke 9:2-3 NIV

I have always been familiar with the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible reading, and fasting. But I was very surprised to learn that simplicity, solitude, submission, and service were also spiritual disciplines. About six years ago God began to speak to me about the spiritual discipline of simplicity. God began to teach me that I needed to simplify my life so that I could make more personal time for him. This was a challenge!

I was working outside the home and had the responsibilities of caring for my home and family. I also led a women’s Bible study which required weekly preparation, I co-chaired the mentoring program at our local church and in addition, I personally mentored several women. I was becoming stressed out in the midst of doing good things. God seemed to be showing me that he wanted me to monitor and guard my time and my activities so that I might have more personal time for him. I realized that I was so busy doing good things that I missed out on quality time with God. My prayer life suffered because most of my prayers were on the fly! I began to look hard at what I was doing and began guarding my time and streamlining my activities.

God began to teach me to throw away, give away, and donate personal stuff! I went through my house and one by one picked up my knick knacks, and if the word “love” did not come to mind, out it went! I emptied my closest of things that had not been on my body in years! I gave away useless kitchen gadgets and appliances that I knew would never be used. The point being, my needless possessions made housecleaning more difficult and took up valuable storage space.

I then tackled the issue of my time. I had to literally set on my hands in meetings so that I would not volunteer to do something else. I had to learn to stop digging up more flower beds; I needed to cook more simply, to hang up clothes, to do less laundry, and to put things back where they belonged. I then attacked the time that I spent in the car. It was crucial that I stop my habit of constantly running here and there on a whim. I made lists and then crossed things off of the lists that were not a priority. I also adopted a new philosophy in house cleaning. I vowed to be neat first, to be clean second, and to be polished last. I spent less time on the phone and for the most part stopped watching so much TV. I did major grocery shopping once a month and only shopped for perishables in between.

Simplicity is not something that you learn but rather a lifestyle that you practice. I had to give myself permission to say no to good opportunities and needs that came my way. I continued to do what was already on my plate, but I now approached my responsibilities with less stress because I didn’t continue to add more to my plate. My goal was to become more organized so that I could free up some additional intimate time for God. I also wanted to take time to enjoy life and smell the roses.

I also tried to learn how to lace my work with my passions. I love music so I played music while I worked and when I was in the car driving. I love to write, so I kept a notebook near by so I could jot down my thoughts in between chores. I love to garden, so I prayed as I worked in my garden. I love to scrapbook family photos and it became my habit to pray for those whose pictures I was placing in my albums. When I started practicing these simple things I began pursuing God as I worked and as I played.

Jesus was busy, yet he lived a simple life and when he sent the disciples out to work, he encouraged them to do the same. His message was “keep it simple.” I do not believe that Jesus was teaching the disciples that it was wrong to have possessions, but I do think his message was simplicity. Things and unnecessary activity bog us down. Jesus was busy, yet he found time to relax with his friends, and time to separate himself from his responsibilities and go away from the crowd and pray.

The discipline of simplicity does not come without effort. It is an ongoing struggle to practice simplicity in my life. But when I do, it most certainly frees me up for what is really important in life. Work with no play is dull, dreary, and depressing. Too much work and play for me is disastrous! I have found that it is an absolute necessity for me to spend consistent time with God. He is the one who is able to help bring balance into my life and to help me keep that balance from gradually slipping away. Sometimes even good things have to go!


Questions:

Have you ever thought of simplicity as being a spiritual discipline?

Do you see value in simplicity?

What are some of the things that you could do to simplify your life?

Do you think that simplicity would eliminate some of the stress in your life?

Do you think that learning to live more simply would provide opportunity for spiritual growth in your life?


Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for your message regarding the discipline of simplicity. Oh God, you know that in my own strength I am hopelessly undisciplined. Show me this week one thing that you would like me to change in order to simplify my life. Help me to depend on you. Teach me to simplify my life by eliminating unnecessary tasks and activities. Guard my time and my activities so that I will be free to enjoy you and the passions and blessings that you have given me. Give me your help and patience as I endeavor to simplify my life one day at a time.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.

Passion or Platitude

The low easy road of "Platitude" or the soaring high road of "Passion"


“For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Even when I have been actively seeking new spiritual truth I have still felt at times that everything seemed to be commonplace and dull. At times God even seemed to be far away. Have you ever been there?

Acting on shear faith that God was near and that he loved me I begin to search my heart and ask God to do the same. Self examination always offers me time to think about where my passions lie. When I am able to identify my passions I am able to ask God to help me see ways that I can move away from dullness of platitude and on to the zeal of passion!

Some times when I allow myself to enjoy the personal things that I am passionate about I begin to feel guilty, selfish, and even irresponsible. Let me say here that I believe that God has given us our gifts and talents to bring us personal relaxation and joy. These gifts and talents are also to be used to serve others. But without a doubt I know that my gifts and talents must first of all be given back to God to be used as a tool for his use and his glory.

Today I am reflecting on the fact that even before I took my first breath, God had given me my own set of “talents” that he designed specifically just for me. After I became a believer, God also gave me my own special “spiritual gift” so that I might do his work using the giftedness that he placed in my spirit on the very first day that I became a Christian. My God-inspired passion is the vehicle that God uses to carry my giftedness and talents into is service. You too have your own unique package of at least one spiritual gift and many talents that God has designed just for you!

None of us needs to be reminded that our work and responsibilities can weigh us down. Our obligations can become so burdensome that they rob us of finding God’s joy in our life. If our work and responsibilities go unmanaged our daily life becomes so out of whack that we find our life whirling out of control, even to the point of becoming depressed, stressed out and even sick.

Our passions and talents have been given to us to serve as a buffer and they are to be used as a tool to bring relaxation and joy into our life. It has been hard for me to recognize my spiritual gifts and talents. I had to learn to pay attention to what I loved and to what others said that I was good at. The things that I loved and what others said about me became clues along the way to help me to discover my spiritual gifts and talents. When I use these precious life enhancements, I have discovered they are the very things that make me truly happy.

I have many things that I am passionate about. I am passionate about my family. I am passionate about nature. Sunrises, sunsets, the beach, the mountains, beautiful flowers, the changing seasons. All of those treasures thrill me to death! I am also passionate about doing anything that involves my creativity. I am passionate about uplifting and encouraging my family and friends. I am passionate about my quiet time with Jesus. I am passionate about helping others to grow in their faith. All of these things bring me so much joy that I can only respond to God in elation because he has allowed me to enjoy so much! The fact is, because I am passionate about the things that God cares about, I am also passionate about him.

I have also discovered that when my passions are misplaced they are selfish and sinful and I am not passionate about God. When we exchange sinful, self motivated passions for “godly” passion we then become people of purpose. God’s purpose is fulfilled through our life by doing the work he prepared in advance for us to do. Recognizing our passions and using our gifts and talents to serve God brings glory to him, blessings to others, and contentment and pleasure to us. What will you choose – passion or platitude?

Questions:

What are your passions?

Do you have any harmful, selfish, or sinful passions?

Have you discovered your God given passions, talents and gifts?

How can you use your gifts and talents to enhance your daily work and responsibilities?

Have you ever taken a spiritual gift assessment? If no, I would highly recommend doing so through a local church.

Have you ever given your spiritual gifts and talents back to God, and asked him to choose for you and show you how he wants you to use those gifts and talents for his glory?


Prayer:

Dear God,

Forgive me for sometimes living the comfortable life of platitude. Thank you for showing me today that my passions, talents, and gifts are from you and that you have uniquely designed those things just for me. Forgive me when I dismiss using my personal gifts because I feel I am too busy. Help me to identify and find purpose in using my spiritual gifts and talents in all that I do throughout my day. Show me ways that I might use all that you have given me to serve others and build up your kingdom. I thank you that you are not a hard taskmaster that wants only work without passion. God, help me to learn to use my talents and giftedness in ways that are pleasing to both you and me. Above all God, I want your son, Jesus Christ, to be my highest passion. God, I desire that my life bring pleasure to you everyday as I go about my work.

In Your Son's Name I pray. Amen.