Promise

A body under stress is a body on red alert. God has promised to be with us through times of tension and stress. When stressed, we are meant to say, like Paul:

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair: persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Stress-Free

My life is full. So full, in fact, that you may have noticed a diminished amount of blogging on my part. On my last trip to Los Angeles, I picked up a pocket book from a store kiosk, mainly because of the cute lounge chairs overlooking a beach on the front cover. As I had just left that setting, I was already wishing to be back. The book turned out to be a book on managing stress: Divine intervention, most likely. I never have been one for self-help books. I believe the Bible, with its full wisdom of Holy Scripture, holds these answers. Yet the book was a very easy read and I found it fun. AND, the sidebars throughout the author’s commentaries held, of all things, SCRIPTURE! So, with this newfound piece of literature, I have decided to share this doctor’s wisdom with you. You may want your own copy: Six Steps to Reduce Stress, Gregory L. Jantz, Phd with Ann McMurray. Our lives will never be stress-free, but with the Grace of our Lord, we can live in joy and peace.

Dr. Jantz’s thought for today: 

In times of stress, turn to God for comfort.

As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. – Psalm 119:143, NLT

Faith

Trying to do everything right is so hard. Parenting is a prime example. There are many, many times when you can be wrong or right, and then there are the scariest times when you can only be right. These right moments are when you place your total trust in God and step aside. Having faith in God inspires us to be good and strong. When we don't feel that way, we find our peace knowing God is in control.

It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendents that he would inherit the world, but through righteousness that comes from faith. - Romans 4:13

Pray for Others

Looking on this small part of our world, I find beauty and serenity in this moment. Yet I know that there are those within this view of mine that hold no view for themselves. They feel fenced in, stifled, and possibly even lost. When we find ourselves in a high moment, let us give thanks to God; yet, never forget those so close to us who need our prayers. All too soon, it will be our time to go into the valley, and we can draw comfort in knowing there are always others praying for us.

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers. - 2 Timothy 1:3

Glory

It is easy to revel in God's glory early in the morning. As life moves forward and the day begins to unfold,  take a moment to pause and rekindle His glory within you.

Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; Let the LORD be glad in His works. Psalm 104:31

Encounter

In every mountain you climb, every obstacle you face, you encounter God.  A life of prayer and devotion prepares you for the encounter. Hope, faith and trust overcomes it all.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27

Chase

“Chase two rabbits and you lose both.” Having raised rabbits in the past, I know this lesson well. When they get out, they are fast, and there is no way of grabbing either unless you place your focus on one at a time. Even then, you are up for a challenge.

Fittingly, I saw these words on a sign of a storage unit; a place built to hold the overflow stuff of man’s desires. It seems we never  have enough stuff, and once we’ve obtained it, we won’t let it go. Our stuff overflows. Physically, emotionally, we chase this dream and that and seldom feel complete. But, there is a way to find the peace we all seek: The One: the fulfiller of all dreams and desires. When we set our goal on the eternal Love of God, all other things will fall beautifully into place, and life will be full.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33

Glorify

When we stand unashamed, believing in the Power of God’s Holiness, we stand within His Kingdom. Seeking God reveals His Nature, and resting in Him fulfills every longing and every desire when, in these moments, we see His Glory revealed. The Glory of the Lord is all around us, manifest in every single entity of our lives. Let us rejoice and be glad.

…because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. – Romans 1:19-20

Prayers

The prayers you pray for others come back to you. Whenever we ask on behalf of another, we ourselves receive God’s loving generosity amplified in our lives. So be generous with your prayers. God loves to give to those who seek. 

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. – Luke 11:9-10

Fallen

I should have pulled it the moment I saw it, but, I let it stay because I thought it pretty. I call it my fallen angel. The flower is tiny, no larger than the tip of my nail. I did not plant it. It was a volunteer, settling itself among the grass in my lawn. Now my lawn is in danger of losing all grass. The beautiful plant has proven to be extremely invasive. I’ve never seen anything multiply as fast. And it not only grows within the grass, but chokes it out completely, leaving only barren soil when the weed is pulled. There are many things in our lives that present themselves as beauty, only to show their true light after they have taken root and invaded our lives. Activities that look appealing and fun on the surface can end up ruining our lives as we know it. And, when recognized for what they are, they are so hard to pull out, leaving large holes in their wake. Yet God is a master gardener. He planted His vineyard with purpose. Turn to Him and let Him pull the weeds from your life. The holes may feel large when He does, but He will turn that soil into soft and supple ground; once again, open for the goodness He can give.

In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel. – Isaiah 4:2

Message

Have you ever found yourself frustrated and even tormented by the fact that a loved one does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God? Jesus’ command is this: 'shake it off'. Our mission is to deliver the message. God is in charge of changing the hearts. Walking in God’s light with an unburdened heart, willing and obedient to His Word, often spread a clearer message to those you love than excessive words ever could.

The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you. Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. – Luke 10:11

Lust

Lust for more, whether it be material, physical, spiritual, or social gratification can become sin by blinding us to the love of God.  Becoming consumed in achieving immediate satisfaction can result in our settling for much less, now and eternally. A good friend states it this way. “We ‘miss the mark’ by choosing NOT the love of God, but some other less worthy, substantially smaller mark, rather than the all-encompassing and life sustaining love of God.”  Sin is separation from God. Do not let sin disguise itself in happiness and comfort.  God is so worth the effort. Trust Him. He’ll bless you beyond measure.

But now – declares Yahweh – come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Tear your hearts and not your clothes and come back to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and he relents about inflicting disaster. – Joel 2:12,13

Light

As we hear of the tragedy and heartbreak of those across our nation, yearning for a way to help, and the distance between us so great, our aid must come in a different light. Let us raise our voices in prayer and praise for our God, and call down faith, hope, trust, and peace for God’s people. In the midst of darkness, there is light. Let us be that light for one another.

Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD. – Zachariah 8:22

Status

In the hierarchy of life, the Christian stands at the bottom. Even though you manage a company, organization, classroom, event, or home, you are the subservient. An organization chart does not mean that one person is above another, but that the efforts must flow in harmony between the sources in order to be successful, no matter where the work originates. Jesus, the one true Son of God, never placed himself above another. He stepped into the system to walk alongside us, as a guiding, supporting role model, completely immersed in the desire to do anything needed to achieve the Father’s Will.  As we manage our life and the tasks placed before us each day, we will do good to remember our Lord. Without complaint, without gossip, but by lifting each other, and being willing to do anything necessary to achieve, we will see greatness.

So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are useless servants: we have done no more than our duty.” – Luke 17:10