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 was reading in Genesis today about Noah and the ark, and I once again noted that God closed the door of the ark, sealing out the floods that were to destroy the earth.
Just as God separated Noah from the judgment that was about to take place on the earth, He calls us to be separate from sin in our lives so that we aren’t not judged unworthy on the great Judgment Day.
Jesus is our door to eternity with God and when God executes judgment on all of mankind, the time for making the right choice is over. The door is shut so that the evil of the world is not welcome in the new heaven and the new earth.
Many people are enjoying prosperity today, the kind that the world gives…fame, riches, and all the trappings that accompany it. But where will they run on the Day of Judgment, the day when it will be too late for them to declare their loyalty to the One True God? What will happen to all of their riches then? Jesus said repeatedly that we need to leave the things of this world behind and concentrate on our walk with God. There will be a day of reckoning, and God will not want to know how much money you made or how successful you were in your own eyes. He wants to see you clothed in the righteousness of His Son, and if you are not, then the judgment of His wrath that He had been holding back will become your new reality.
Are Christians the ones who are wailing? I think we will be the ones around the throne singing a new song of rejoicing, but those who have not accepted the Lord as Savior will be wailing for their destruction is absolute and certain.
There were many in the days of Noah who ridiculed him for building the ark. They drowned in the flood of judgment that God sent. Don’t let the ridicule of the world keep you away from making the choice that will keep you safe in God’s arms for all eternity. Choose life…choose Jesus! He is the only secure place in a world that is overrun with evil. He is the only door to the Father, and He has invited everyone to come in before it is too late.
This morning in my devotional, I read several scriptures about God’s holiness. Thus, I was enticed to dig in and find out more about what that means to me as a Christian.
The characteristic of holiness is ascribed to God repeatedly. In fact, one source I consulted (see footnote) reports that the word “holy” is used 431 times in the Old Testament in Hebrew and 180 times in the New Testament in Greek. When we think about God’s attributes, we generally think of His mercy, grace and love. Holiness seems to be a part of God that I don’t think about too much, but perhaps I should. God is holy because He is separate from His creation; in fact, the Bible says no one can look at God and live. Moses got to see the back of God from a cleft in a rock, but He did not see God face to face. That marvelous privilege will happen when we live with Him in a new heaven and new earth, where He is the ruler forever and ever.
But why does the Scripture constantly admonish us to be holy? Is that something that happens as soon as we become Christians? No, rather we are “becoming” holy…we will not be complete until we are in His presence.
I cannot imagine the entire earth being filled with God’s glory, but I am excited about it. The angels called God holy, and God tells us to be holy as He is. We are supposed to be separated from the sinful world and sacred to Him, our Creator and Redeemer.
Our God is holy and we can be like him but we cannot be Him. He is the Creator and the One worthy of all of our praise and adoration.
Is Jesus called “holy”? Of course, because He is the Son and has always been with the Father from the beginning. But Jesus doesn’t make us holy; He shows us the way to holiness by living according to the standards he set forth in His words to His disciples. The resource I used stated that even our best efforts cannot make us holy. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “holy” is part of the name of the third person of the Trinity. He is the One who continually works within us to help us to be holy. That still small voice that reminds you of commitments to God and things you should be doing, wise choices you should make? That’s the Holy Spirit that resides in each of us once we have become adopted into the family of God as His children. God doesn’t just say, “be holy.” He sends a helper to aid us in our quest to be more like Him. (John 14:26)
I have not arrived at holiness yet, and I don’t know anyone who has. I think that Enoch, the man who walked with God and never died, must have reached that goal, but I don’t know for sure. I am on a quest to be better today, closer to Him, more “holy” if you will, than I was yesterday. Will I fail sometimes? Yes, more than I want to, but I am still striving to the goal of holiness because God says to be holy. He didn’t wave a magic wand and say, “Okay. You’re holy now.” We have to make wise choices every day, every hour and every minute in order to move towards the holiness that God wants to see in us. Does that mean that we are not righteous before God? No, I may be wrong, but I think righteousness is different than holiness. Righteousness is the right standing with God that Jesus gave us by dying for us on the cross. Holiness is what we strive towards in our daily walk with the Lord.
I am not sure I am making sense here to anyone but me, but I hope that this post has made you think about holiness and how God is holy all the time and He doesn’t have to work at it. He just is holy! Praise His Name!
Today is the day after Epiphany, the day I take the Christmas decorations off the tree and put all of the Christmas things away. It is usually a sad day for me, a day to miss all of the pretty decorations and the fun times that we had as a family together. But this year, I am in a more reflective mood. I took everything down and put it away and then I sat in my chair to do my devotional. Outside the window next to me, I can see the birds hopping around in the snow, eating the birdseed that my husband scattered for them yesterday. They remind me of how much God loves all of His creation.
I really don’t like snow because it’s so cold and so slippery. But it is a beautiful part of God’s creation and from inside my warm home, I can look out at the light reflecting on the white surfaces everywhere and marvel at God’s ability to create such beauty from nothing. What are you looking at in nature today that shows you God’s wonderful creation?
This verse was my memory verse a couple of weeks ago, and it is a favorite of mine. The same God who created all of the world that I know sees me, and nothing is too hard for Him. When I think I have reached the end of my rope, God lets a little more out for me to hold on to and He always reminds me that He is the One holding the other end.
I have not been doing a lot of suffering lately, but I do have friends and family who have been going through some rough times. If we are suffering according to God’s will, we can be assured that the faithful Creator is aware of what we are going through and is right there with us. When I think that I am in a wilderness and no one else is going through what I am enduring, God reminds me that His Son suffered and endured so much more than I ever could or will. He also reminds me that I am going THROUGH the wilderness; I am not supposed to camp there and have a pity party.
Contrary to popular belief and most Nativity sets, the wise men were not at the birth of Jesus. In fact, since it probably took them a couple of years to travel to see Him, He was likely a toddler when they arrived. Nevertheless, they left whatever they were doing in their own homelands and traveled far away, not knowing where they were going, but following a star to the place of the Messiah.
My big takeaway from the visit of the Magi is that they were willing to leave things behind and press forward towards where God was leading them. They didn’t make excuses or try to find a replacement, they just went and did what God called them to do. How often do I drop what I am doing and listen to God’s voice and immediately obey? I would guess that my answer would have to be almost never. First of all, I do not hear God’s audible voice very often and when I do, it is usually for wisdom or comfort, not instructions to do something. I would like to think that if God told me specifically to do something, I would, but I just don’t know and I don’t exactly trust myself to act quickly when God says to. Thus, I really admire the Magi who did act quickly, perhaps even spontaneously, to follow God’s plan.
My word for this year is “listen” and I am hoping and praying to hear more from God this year. My busy life has settled into a routine of household chores, reading and reviewing books along with daily devotional time. But I am willing and ready to hear from God. I would like to hear from my readers, too. Has God ever told you to do something and you acted on it? How did it turn out for you? After all, we all have a purpose and are part of God’s plan, so we need to be attentive for when He is calling on us to help carry out the plan.
From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional “Advent, Day 14”
Joy vs. Happiness
There are many similarities between joy and happiness. They’re both positive, make you smile, and improve your day. But there are also some big differences. So let’s explore the differences between joy and happiness.
Happiness happens to you. When a friend sends words of encouragement, you get the job, or find your lost keys, you feel happy. It’s a response and it feels good. But, like all emotions, happiness fades over time. Joy is different.
In the Bible, joy isn’t an emotion. It’s an attitude. Joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. Think of it like a lens, helping you see your life in a different way. Joy recognizes the pain people experience every day but also remembers God’s kindness, love, and good plans for the world. Then, joy allows these truths to influence how we speak, act, and present ourselves.
So what does joy look like? Well it doesn’t always look like constant smiling and a bubbly personality. Instead, it looks like a perspective informed by the good news of Jesus.
Imagine your best friend has a surprise party later in the day. It’s your job to keep them busy until the celebration kicks off. So while you do ordinary activities with your friend, knowing there’s a party coming changes your attitude.
Knowing good news changes you, so it’s often hard to hide. As followers of Jesus, we know the best news—God loves us despite our flaws and failures and will do whatever it takes to restore every broken, painful, and unjust thing in our world. When we trust this news, joy overflows from our lives into the people around us, no matter what we’re facing.
Today, you’ll get to read a passage written by David, a shepherd who became king. In it, you’ll see he’s experiencing pain and doubt, yet he can also rejoice. Why? Because he trusts God’s love, goodness, and salvation.
But what if you’re not feeling particularly joyful this Christmas? Does it mean God isn’t working in your life? No, definitely not.
But here’s the good news: God wants to help you become a joyful presence in the world around you. In the New Testament, we get a list of qualities God’s Spirit develops in our lives. These are called the fruit of the Spirit, and as you might’ve guessed, one of them is joy. This means that as we pursue closeness with God, God will fill our hearts with joy.
There’s a party coming in the future when God finishes His restorative work, heals every injury, and wipes away every tear. We can embrace lasting joy no matter what we’re going through.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your offer of joy. Please help me choose to accept Your offer. Help me to be thankful and to joyfully celebrate what You have done before and what You are doing now. Teach me to be obedient to You in everything I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
The emphasis added above with the color red is mine. God helps us have joy, but I think we have to choose to have an attitude of joy first. I really like the idea of focusing on the celebration that is coming in heaven. That does make it easier to have joy in a world full of turmoil and difficulties.
We can trust that God is good and has a good plan for us, no matter what is currently happening in our lives. I know that I need to focus more on my future with God and less on the daily challenges. It’s when I take my eyes off of God and His love for me that I get overwhelmed. His desire for me is joy, not a feeling of despair. So, during this week when I am visiting my sister, I plan to choose joy and focus on the big celebration that awaits all of us who know Jesus as Savior.
Prayer request: Our grandson Isaac has another scan on Monday to check for cancer again. This time, they are doing a CT with contrast dye. My husband is trying to work out a way to be with Isaac at this time, so please pray that it all works out. That is the day he is taking me to meet my niece who then takes me to NC to see my sister. But God is working things out and I hope and pray it all comes together and Harry can be with Isaac and encourage him. Thank you for your prayers.
Imagine a cold, snowy night, drinking hot chocolate next to a roaring fireplace, surrounded by friends and family. People are laughing, sharing stories, and maybe even singing a Christmas carol. Kids are crowding around the evergreen tree, surrounded by presents wrapped in every shade of red and green with bows of silver and gold.
For hundreds of years, people have gathered to celebrate Jesus’ birth with a few consistent elements: song, food, and gifts. Yes, a red-nosed reindeer got thrown into the mix somewhere along the way. But for the most part, the key ingredients have remained the same.
But why? What’s motivated billions of people throughout hundreds of years to say, “This event is worth celebrating”?
Let’s start two thousand years ago with a group of shepherds in a field. Shepherds were men and women who managed herds of livestock, often traveling along with their families. They had the messy, monotonous, and occasionally dangerous work of moving sheep around the countryside to find food.
We don’t know much about these shepherds, how many there were, or even their names. But it’s easy to imagine a few of them with their children gathered around fires, laughing and telling stories, while those on watch wandered among the sleeping sheep, keeping an eye out for lions, wolves, or thieves.
Then, one of the shepherds noticed a stranger, not in the sky (like in the popular imagination) but in the midst of their camp. The stranger, an angel sent by God, terrified the shepherds because he was glowing brighter than the most well-lit Christmas tree. He gave a simple message: something had happened that would bring great joy to the world!
Of course, you probably know the message, but let’s pretend for a second that you don’t. Let’s imagine what it would be like to be part of those shepherd families thousands of years ago. You’d probably ask yourself a few questions, like, What could bring joy to the whole world?Why bring this message to us shepherds? And what even is joy?
Over the next few days, we’ll explore these questions and more. Together, we’ll see that joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, as I seek You and prepare to celebrate the arrival of Jesus, please draw close to me. As I focus on You, please give me Your gift of joy and help me to share it with the people in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
In the busy Christmas season with a lot of different activities and things to get done, I don’t think I pause enough to think about the joy that this season represents. A totally new and different light came into the world, One who brought hope and peace and salvation. God’s plan that He had made since the beginning of creation was manifested in Jesus. The birth of a little baby, not a significant event normally, changed the whole world. So while I may complain at all that I need to get done before Christmas Day, I pray that the joy of the season will be shown clearly on my face and in my words and actions. I want others to feel the joy that I feel, even though sometimes it’s hidden under lots of stress that I bring on myself. I really want to demonstrate what the season is really about, not just with tangible gifts but with the inexpressible and unbelievable joy that comes from knowing a Savior whose birth we celebrate. God is good…all the time!
From the YouVersion Bible App, “An Unexpected Christmas”, “Corrie ten Boom’s Christmas Memories” and “Advent, 25-Day Countdown, Day 9”
Day 1: The Forgotten
The story starts with a couple, but it’s not the couple you might think. There is an often forgotten couple that played a key role in the unveiling of the Christmas story. Their names were Zechariah and Elizabeth. They were the type of couple that did all the right things… they honored God and kept his laws. At this point in their lives, they had been married many years and were quite old, but they had no children.
In the Jewish culture, children were a sign of God’s blessing. Children ensured that beliefs were passed on to future generations. Zechariah and Elizabeth had undoubtedly attended celebrations where they had watched their friends experience the joy of seeing their children learn stories of God’s faithfulness to their ancestors. But this couple had no children of their own to pass down their faith to.
The backdrop of the first Christmas story begins with Zechariah at work in his job as a priest.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:8–15; 18)
Over the many years of longing for a child, Zechariah would likely have wondered if his prayers were heard. Did God not see him? Did God not hear his heartfelt, desperate requests? For years, in the midst of a continual unanswered prayer, he served God and waited. When he was an old man, he learned that his prayer had been answered, but it seemed impossible to believe. Little did he know that his long-awaited son, John, would be a cousin to Jesus and would one day prepare the way for Jesus’s ministry.
My Thoughts
I am spending some time today pondering about who in my group of friends and acquaintances might be feeling forgotten during this season. I can already think of a couple of names of people whom I need to reach out to and remind them that they are loved are cherished by me and, more importantly, by God.
Christmas in Corrie’s childhood
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. – Isaiah 9:6
When Corrie is 84 years old she recalls the sweet memories of the Christmases of her childhood. She shares that the Christmas Joy was not about a short and transient gladness that disappeared as soon as the chilly January month made his entrance to finish the Christmas season. But it was, and is about an everlasting joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Yes, there were the sweet childhood memories of her mother and aunt who both had a gift to make Christmas as colourful and happy as possible. She remembered the holly and the mistletoe, sometimes even a little Christmas tree, the Christmas table with the red ribbons, where the family gathered, enjoying the hot chocolate and the Christmas bread with powdered sugar. They all walked to the Sint Bavo Cathedral for the church service and sang “O holy Night” and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and the sound of the world-famous organ filled the church. All expressions of an everlasting and unspeakable glorious joy.
But first and foremost they celebrated that the words of the prophet Isaiah were fulfilled, that night in Bethlehem 2000 years ago: “God so loved the world and sent His Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). They knew He is the “Wonderful Counsellor”, He is God, He has brought peace in the midst of circumstances. And one day He, will come back and reign forever. And it is the passionate commitment of the Lord Himself that guaranteed this.
That was what Christmas in the ten Boom family was all about. They wanted to serve this King with all their heart, mind and strength. And they wanted to share this Christmas Joy with as many people as possible, because they knew that the Lord Jesus had said: “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
To reflect
Let us celebrate Christmas, knowing that it is all about an Everlasting Joy, because God so loved the world that he sent His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. He is our Lord and King today!
My Thoughts
I am thankful for all that Jesus means to me and His names in Isaiah all point out His promises to us. He is our counselor, our God, our Father and our peace. He was given to each of us so that we may have a relationship with the Father.
Yesterday, we looked at the peace that comes from being in God’s family. When we know whose family we belong to, we can experience a peace that the world can’t take away.
During this time of the year, you’re probably feeling pulled in endless directions—Christmas parties, classroom celebrations, family traditions, and the pressure to find the perfect gifts are just a few that might come to mind.
Peace is a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between us, God, and others. But if we’re not careful, we can miss the opportunity to truly experience peace because we’re so distracted by our calendars and commitments, even if they’re filled with good things.
Under completely different circumstances thousands of years ago, God gave His people the Ten Commandments. He was talking to a group of people who had been in slavery for over 400 years, and had come to believe that their value was tied to the number of bricks they could produce in any given day or week.
And while that belief was likely deeply ingrained in the way they viewed themselves, God offered them a better option. He gave them a series of laws to establish peaceful and harmonious relationships among their communities, and in their own personal relationships with God.
One of these commands includes taking a full day of rest called the Sabbath. In the New Testament, Jesus reiterates the importance of the Sabbath by reminding people that it wasn’t created so we would have another chore to do, but so we would have time to worship God and enjoy the good things He has given us—like a meal with friends and family, or relaxing and appreciating life.
While a full day of rest might feel impossible right now, you can still find ways to start small. You might choose to listen to worship music on your morning commute, or spend an extra five minutes after you read the Bible to sit in God’s presence and ask Him questions about what you learned.
Instead of getting on your phone when your alarm goes off, you could choose a slower start to your day before scrolling social media.
When we take a day of rest (or even an intentional 15-minute pause to our day), we admit we can’t get everything we need on our own. God gives peace through work and rest. We need both. Peace is His gift, but we must choose to accept it and trust that God will give us everything we need for today.
My Thoughts
If you are still reading this, then I thank you. You can find all of these devotionals and read them yourselves on the YouVersion Bible App. I am excited about Christmas this year, not for the gifts because my husband and I don’t buy much for each other, and not for the family time, because that will be short with one son and his family coming for a day. But I am excited because it is a time for me to reflect on my relationship with God and how I have grown closer to Him this year.
One of the things we have been challenged to do in our class at church is to spend some time in solitude before the Lord. I feel as though I do that daily with my quiet devotional time, while my husband still sleeps and there are no ambient noises. But I realized yesterday during our lesson that I talk to God during that time, but I am not sitting quietly to rest in Him and to listen to what He speaks to my heart. So, I have a new commitment to just sit quietly and listen. My Sabbath rest comes when I spend time with God, quietly. That is what I long for this holiday season.
From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional “Advent, Day 7”
What Is Peace?
What do you think of or imagine when you hear the word “peace”? Maybe you imagine your favorite vacation destination, when the rest of the world seems to come to a standstill. Perhaps your brain takes you to the resolution of a previously chaotic event. It’s possible you even think of a time when you had inner peace, when anxiety or worries seemed to quiet down.
Writers of the Bible sometimes use the word shalom as a way of describing peace as complete wholeness. At its core, peace is a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between us, God, and others.
This can seem great in theory, but has the potential to feel unattainable when we look at the world around us—especially in the rush of the holiday season. Still, when we look at different stories in the Bible, we can see how God has been our source of peace since the beginning of time.
We’ll take a closer look at different examples in the days to come, but here are a few things we learn about peace as we read Scripture:
Peace comes when we keep our perspectives locked on God. (Isaiah 26:3)
Peace fights against fear. (Psalm 56:3-4)
Peace is a gift God gives us through the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
Peace isn’t limited to the circumstances happening in the world around us. (John 16:33)
Peace doesn’t always make sense, but it always connects us to God. (Philippians 4:7)
As you look at your life today, peace might feel impossible. It takes a lifetime to work toward peace, but we all have a step we can take today to more fully experience this gift. You might take a few minutes after you finish today’s reading to sit in God’s presence and thank Him for today. As you do, ask Him to fill you with His perfect peace.
Pause and Pray:
God, thank You for the gift of peace. Help me to experience You in new ways. I trust that You are my ultimate source of peace, even when I don’t understand. Please work in the areas and relationships in my life that feel far from peaceful. Bring them into a state of wholeness and renewal with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
My Thoughts
Even as I type these words, my mind is churning away with a list of things I need to get done today. My bare Christmas tree is visual evidence that I am behind on my chores, but still, here I sit. I am seeking God’s peace to come through to my heart this holiday season. I don’t know what happens at your house for the holidays, but my life is filled with the regular things I have to do, plus ordering gifts for children and grandchildren, decorating (I do it sparsely, but I do it) and running errands as well as medical visits. Whew! Just writing out the list is somewhat overwhelming!
But the real reason for the season, the birthday of our Savior, is not lost on me. So, I tackle one thing at a time and I am thankful for the energy to get things done. They may not be perfect, but they will be done with my best effort for my age and physical limitations.
With the passing of time, I have found that the more I sit quietly in God’s presence, the more likely I am to be organized and cheerfully ready to take on that day’s tasks. I tend to get more irritable as Christmas Day draws closer, knowing that I only have a certain number of days to complete the shopping, decorating, etc. My prayer is always for God to help me to do what I can do each day and He always comes through. His peace seems to envelop me as I play Christmas songs and read His Word. It is His peace that connects me to Him and that helps me keep my focus on Him and not all that I have to do.
Here is a song that I listen to that helps me remember why I am doing what I do these days. I’m not a big fan of the singer and her current woke attitude, but I do like the song and the message to be still before God.
From the YouVersion Bible App, “Advent, A 25 Day Countdown to Christmas, Day 3”
Hope When Things Go Wrong in the World
Yesterday, we said hope is the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.
But what about when all the evidence this Christmas tells you the future might only bring more pain? When forces outside of your control, like war, the economy, and sickness, cause chaos all over the world.
If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone. Around 500 years before Jesus, the people of God were invaded, captured, and forcibly deported to a faraway nation. They were separated from their families, homes, and, for many, their hope.
Their forced migration is called the exile, and its trauma influenced countless Scriptures.
Today, you’ll read a lament (a pain-filled song of praise) by a few of these people. These exiles were musicians, but after their capture, they were taken as servants or slaves to work at a farm in a nation called Babylon. Their captors asked them to play the music of their people, and they responded with despair, saying something like, “How could we sing songs of hope and praise to God when we’ve experienced so much pain?”
Global events outside their control made hope feel impossible. Can you relate?
When things go wrong in the world, it feels like evidence that God is against us, ignoring us, or He’s left us behind. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Throughout their time in Babylon, the people of God not only survived, but learned to thrive. They discovered God was present in their pain, and God still had a plan for their future.
In fact, one of the most famous Bible verses (Jeremiah 29:11) is about God’s plan for His people in exile. In that verse, He promises to give them hope and a future. And God delivered on His promise.
Your pain isn’t evidence God doesn’t care or is far off. It’s evidence that God is still working on His plan to make all things new.
True hope doesn’t ignore the pain of life. Instead, it trusts God’s plan despite the worst life has to offer.
Yes, it’s a slow process. And it’s normal to get frustrated with God’s timing. But when we look at the experience of the exile, we see the evidence of God’s faithfulness in the middle of pain and in the fulfillment of His promises.
Pause and Pray:
Lord, thank You that even in the darkest of times, You are working for good. Help me to have hope even when things are hard in my life. Help me to share the hope I have in You with those around me. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
My Thoughts
My heart is not heavy today, but it has been in the past. I want to know what God is doing to bring the suffering in the world to an end. I want things to get better, but they seem to get worse instead. I know the Bible says that these are signs of the times, but sometimes I am just ready to stop being a foreigner in a strange land and be home with the Lord where I belong.
God’s Word to me is to be patient and wait. He is working out His plan for me, just as He did for the Israelites who were exiled in Babylon for decades. He didn’t say to them, “Well, you sinned, so I am just going to leave you to suffer through your consequences.” He never stepped away from watching over them and keeping His promises to them, and He hasn’t left us either. God is the One who is working on His plan, not my plan or your plan, but His plan. He sees the big picture, and He continues to methodically work with fallen man to work out His plan for the end of the age.
So, while I may be impatient with things as they are, I can be thankful that God is patient. How many would be lost already if He were not patient with all of us? I just read a Christian book about human trafficking that absolutely broke my heart. It’s fiction but it could have been ripped from headlines. The story of a group of girls stolen from their village in Peru and sold to men to be used, abused and discarded was hard to read but it also had a message of hope and faith. It is undergirded with the message of the Prodigal and the Lost Sheep. We have all been prodigals at one time, and we have all be a lost sheep. God sees and He cares about all of the cruelty and injustice in the world. There is no one who loves more deeply than our Heavenly Father.
This is the book that I am referring to and I highly recommend it. It is hope for the hopeless and a light in the darkness. The author is new to me, but I can recommend this book because I just finished it and cried through many of the gut-wrenching scenes. It isn’t too graphic but it does deal with difficult topics, so I would rate it five stars and a PG-17.
This is one of the songs that I have requested be played at my funeral. Yes, I am one of those controlling people who plans in advance, but not for control but rather for the comfort of my family so that they don’t have to worry about details. When I heard this on the radio years ago, it spoke to my heart because of all of our military moves and the fact that I have never really felt settled into a home or community. When I arrive to my eternal home, then I will truly know what home is like and I am looking forward to that day. Until then, I will wait, just as God is waiting, patiently working out His plan and hoping that I am helping in some small way to help Him fulfill it.
From the YouVersion Bible App, “A God Who Is Faithful”, Day 4
A History of Faithfulness
The audience for this psalm is clear: “the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob” (v. 6). The people of God were to hear and heed these words.
The people of Israel seemed to have suffered from spiritual amnesia. So, beginning with Abraham, the psalmist recounted the faithfulness of God over the span of 40 verses. The God of Israel allowed no one to oppress them (vv. 14 – 15). The word of the Lord was fulfilled in the rise of Joseph (vv. 17 – 22). The Lord made his people fruitful, more numerous than their foes (v. 24). When they were enslaved, God sent Moses (v. 26).
While the psalm lists various names, God proves to be the main character. It was God who powerfully delivered them from Pharaoh (vv. 27 – 38). Though this psalm includes only highlights from Israel’s history, the point is clear: nothing God purposed has failed.
The psalmist began with Abraham. Yet, Jesus would assert plainly in the Gospel of John, “Before Abraham was born, I am” (Jn 8:58). The epicenter of God’s faithfulness not only preceded the father of Israel, all God’s promises eventually find their “Yes” in him (2Co 1:20). God remembers his covenant; God’s people remember his wonders (Ps 105:5 – 11).
Today’s Prayer:
Jesus, I don’t ever want to suffer from spiritual amnesia. Help me to always remember everything that you’ve done for me and all that you’ve promised to do. Amen.
My Thoughts
Constantly reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in the past helps us to have hope and faith in the present and the future. Psalm 105 is like a list of things God did for the Israelites, a reminder of His presence and His blessing. Reading the Bible helps me remember, too. I have notes to myself of prayers I have said at particular times with certain verses as parts of my prayer. And I note what I was praying for and recall the answer. I don’t do it often enough, but I also keep a journal of God’s promises made and kept.
I wish we didn’t have to use reminders, that it just came naturally to remember all that God has done for us. But I find that when I am in the pits of despair, I am whining so much that I forget what God has done and will do if I will just let go and listen. In real life, it’s sometimes hard to remember but the devotional today was all about remembering and telling others about what God has done so that they can have their faith built up, too.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 