I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
I don’t know about you but all of the news, the health issues that keep coming at me, the demands of my time from others and just life in general has me worn out. I wake up in the morning, thank God for a new day and get up. But what I really want to do sometimes is pull the covers over my head and not even face the day. I was encouraged this morning by my devotional in which I read that God never gets tired.
God understands my deep bone and soul weariness and He doesn’t chastise me or tell me worthless platitudes about things getting better. Instead, He assures me that He is not tired or reaching out to me and He is still strong on my behalf. So, if you are feeling a little buffeted by the waves of life, then grasp hold of this Scripture. God hears, understands and never gets weak or weary. We can count on Him to always be the same even when the world around us seems to be shifting in ways we don’t like. God is good…all the time! And because of His goodness, mercy and never-changing love, I can face the small challenges of life and reach out to others who need an encouraging word.
God’s faithfulness is a central theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Here are a few verses that I found that have spoken to me in the past and continue to minister to me now.
And finally, a song that I hope will bless you as you spend time worshipping our faithful Father today:
Anyone who knows me knows that I love books and never leave home without at least one. I have books surrounding me. They are on the table next to me, the shelves around me, the shelves in the living room and even in my bedroom. I have collected books for years. I also gift them frequently to others whom I know will appreciate the story that is within. As a bibliophile, I like visiting libraries. In fact, each of the twenty-five times we moved, I was not totally content in the new place until we had visited the local library. I guess I just wanted to assure myself that there was one in some of the remote locations in which we were stationed. I also enjoy looking at photos of unusual libraries around the world. Here is one in Stockholm:
Look at all those books! Can you imagine visiting such a wondrous treasure trove of knowledge and entertainment? But there is something even better.
John completes his gospel with these words. Everything Jesus did could not be contained in all of the libraries in all the world. Amazing claim, isn’t it? But if you think about it, it is so true! Jesus is still working in lives today and if each of us who is touched daily by His love and grace keeps a journal or writes a poem or a letter, anything that is written about what Jesus has done, then that could be added to the “library” of what Jesus has done and is continuing to do.
Yes, I love books, but I also love the fact that God loves each of us so much that He provided a record of what He has done for us and even includes prophecy about what the future will be like. All of the adventure, mystery and historical books in the world cannot compare to the magnificent story of God told in His Holy Word, the Bible. It is a love story without comparison and it was gifted to us. Each of us has a part of that story that we carry around in our hearts. Some of us share it with others in writing, adding to the library about Jesus a testimony of what He has personally done in our lives and how He has changed us.
The next time you see a beautiful library, remember that all of the works of Jesus are too many to be contained in it. Then, start thinking of all He has done for you and be grateful. And maybe write a few things down as a record for others to read and marvel at…what a mighty God we serve!
I am easily irritated during stormy weather because we live rurally and our electricity goes out pretty regularly. Sometimes, we are in the dark for hours, sometimes for days. Once, during a tropical storm, we were without power for almost two weeks. I don’t like the dark or the inconvenience of having no power for anything.
Worse than losing electricity is to not be plugged into our power source of life itself.
Through being plugged into the source of our life, strength and hope, we get the benefits of endurance, patience and joy. We don’t have to worry about storms knocking us offline because God is only a prayer away.
God is always right there even when we wander off the path and away from the source of our power. He is ready and willing to help us plug back in, get renewed energy from His Holy Spirit flowing in us and then He enables us to reach out to others and share the power He gives us with them. The current of God is flowing in us, through us and out to others. That’s the kind of power that we never have to worry about losing!
Why do we learn new things? Is it just to satisfy our own curiosity or desire to know something? That could be part of the reason, but I think we are taught so that we can then teach others.
Paul is speaking to Timothy, his student and almost a shadow of his ministry. He told Timothy to take the truths Paul had taught him and teach others. But the cycle doesn’t stop there because Paul continues that the people Timothy teaches will, in turn, teach others. That’s how a big fire starts…one small stick at a time.
If you’re like me, sometimes you wander away again. But the Good Shepherd won’t let us wander too far away from His loving arms. I’m so thankful that I’m safe in the arms of Jesus and pray that many others will come to know that secure feeling, too.
How long has it been since you took time to think about God’s goodness? I don’t mean some rote prayer or a list of all God’s blessings. I am talking about His goodness, an attribute that I think is generally overlooked.
When Moses requested to see God’s glory, God agreed to show him His goodness, saying he could see God from behind and His goodness would pass before him.
God answers our prayers even when they are unusual requests, particularly if our goal is to know Him better, as Moses desired.
So, I ask you again. Have you reflected on God’s goodness? As you listen to this song, take time to worship our Creator and acknowledge His goodness.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 