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APRIL 28, 2024

Antidote for Anger

Enid Adah Nyinomujuni (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)

"Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" - Romans 2:4 (NRSVUE)

"I recently experienced an incident that led me to think of and appreciate God’s kindness and patience with me. I was angry with a young woman who is under my guardianship. I was even thinking of withdrawing my assistance from her. Yet I knew that if I did, my decision would cut short her education because her parents cannot afford to pay her school fees.

Then one day as I was reading the Bible, I came across words that spoke of God’s kindness toward us. I thought of the many times that I have failed God. Yet God has never given up on me. I saw then that I needed to treat this young woman the way God treats me — with kindness and patience.

When we feel provoked by others, we can begin to lose patience with them, even speaking and acting unkindly. But if we remember how the Lord has been kind and patient with us, we can act to bring about reconciliation and peace." God is always kind to us and supports our efforts even He does not always agree with our personal choices. He shows us Grace and we must have that for those around us who disappoint or fail us.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"'Dear Jesus, help us to exercise the same kindness and patience with others as you so lovingly demonstrated as you walked among us. Give us the courage to follow you faithfully every day. We pray the prayer you taught us, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation”' (Luke 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.

Romans 2:1-11

"1 So every single one of you who judge others is without any excuse. You condemn yourself when you judge another person because the one who is judging is doing the same things. 2 We know that God’s judgment agrees with the truth, and his judgment is against those who do these kinds of things. 3 If you judge those who do these kinds of things while you do the same things yourself, think about this: Do you believe that you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life? 5 You are storing up wrath for yourself because of your stubbornness and your heart that refuses to change. God’s just judgment will be revealed on the day of wrath. 6 God will repay everyone based on their works. 7 On the one hand, he will give eternal life to those who look for glory, honor, and immortality based on their patient good work. 8 But on the other hand, there will be wrath and anger for those who obey wickedness instead of the truth because they are acting out of selfishness and disobedience. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 11 God does not have favorites." Make right choices and do good and you will be supported eternally. If you made some poor choices , God will deal with those help you through. Blessings are ours to receive. Joe

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jdgo51 · 24 hours

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Will We Know One Another in Heaven?

Today's inspiration comes from:

The 50 Final Events in World History

by Robert J. Morgan

The descriptions in Revelation 21–22 of the new heavens, new earth, and new Jerusalem are literal — or they are images of an even more literal reality — and how wonderful is that? We will literally, physically, and bodily be with the Godhead, the godly personalities of the invisible realm, the saints of all the ages, and one another for eternity.

Wouldn’t it be a shame if we never recognized anyone? Is it possible we’ll be total strangers in paradise forever, that we’ll have everlasting amnesia?

No. It isn’t remotely possible — yet we sometimes wonder if we’ll know each other in Heaven. It’s an emotive question. Our relationships on earth mean more to us than anything else. I loved my dad and mom; I love my sister and her family; I miss my wife, and I cherish daughters, their husbands, and all their children. These relationships are more valuable to me than any other single thing in this world apart from my relationship with Christ. I never want to lose these bonds of love. It doesn’t matter if I lose everything else on earth, I don’t want to lose those dearest to me. I want to be where they are, and I want them to be where I am.

Jesus felt the same way. In the upper room on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples,

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. — John 14:3

He wanted His friends to be with Him, near Him, fellowshipping with Him forever. A couple of hours later, Jesus prayed an unutterably deep prayer just before His arrest.

Father, He said, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am. — John 17:24

Jesus Himself — God of very God — wanted His friends and family to be with Him in eternity, where He was, so He could enjoy their fellowship and love. He feels as we do about our dearest ones. These passages in John 14 and John 17 clearly imply that one of the greatest joys of Heaven will be our everlasting reunion with those we love.

While the Bible doesn’t give us a verse saying, “You will know each other in Heaven,” it treats this reality like an obvious truth, simply assuming this is the case. There are a number of passages that make this assumption reasonable and clear.

John 20:19–23

The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us our first glimpse in Scripture of what the glorified resurrection body will be like. John 20:19–20 says,

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

When Jesus rose from the tomb, He had the same identity and the same appearance He had prior to His death. The disciples recognized Him. They recognized His face and His features, they recognized His hands with the nail prints, and He even showed them His side. They recognized Him by the scar left from the Roman spear. He knew them after His resurrection, and they knew Him, though His body was now imperishable.

I’ve long believed that our resurrection bodies will have the appearance of our being in our early thirties. Jesus was about thirty-three when He rose from the dead, and Philippians 3:21 says He will “transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Whatever our apparent age, we will be physically, mentally, and emotionally mature, and we will be recognizable as ourselves. The essence of our identity will not be lost through the process of rapture or resurrection. Our faults and failures will be gone, but I will still be me, and you will still be you — in the fullness of the perfection of Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:12

Another clue comes from 1 Corinthians 13. In the first several verses, the apostle Paul commended the virtues of love, and he ended the chapter by talking about its permanence. Love will continue after we die. Faith will not be needed in Heaven, and our hope will be fulfilled. But love will continue. Our relationships with those we love will go right on, and, in fact, be far better.

Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. — 1 Corinthians 13:12

In other words, “I know Jesus Christ now, but one day I’ll know Him better; I’ll see Him fully and I will know Him just as He knows me.” The implication is that we’ll also know each other better and love each other more fully in the future than we do now.

Right now, even the best of human relationships are imperfect. One day those of us who know Christ Jesus our Lord will see His face, reflect His love, and know one another even as we ourselves are known.

Jesus wanted His friends to be with Him, near Him, fellowshipping with Him forever.

1 Thessalonians 4

Another helpful passage is in 1 Thessalonians. The Christians in Thessalonica were still learning the rudiments of Christian theology. They had questions about what happens when we die. Paul wrote,

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. — 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

The basis of Paul’s encouragement and comfort is that we’ll be together with those we love and with the Lord forever in heaven. Our fellowship with our Christian loved ones goes right on! We’ll pick up where we left off, and we will know even as we are known. We will recognize Him and others, even as they recognize us.

There’s no capping the encouragement this gives me!

2 Corinthians 4:13–14

In a similar vein, in 2 Corinthians 4:14, Paul wrote,

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

Paul knew something. He didn’t hope, think, speculate, or wish. He knew his body would be resurrected and he would be reunited with his Corinthian friends in the presence of the Lord. That gave him vast encouragement, and he repeated the same idea elsewhere in his letters to his friends and to other churches he established. For example, he called the Thessalonians “the crown in which we will glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus when He comes” (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

He fully anticipated an eternal friendship with those he had won to Christ.

Luke 16:22–31

In Luke 16, Jesus told about a neighborhood beggar who died and went to Heaven. But Jesus didn’t use the word Heaven. He used the phrase Abraham’s side, saying, “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.” The passage goes on to talk about “Abraham . . . with Lazarus by his side” (Luke 16:22–23).

In other words, a dirty but God-trusting Middle Eastern beggar went to Heaven and found himself walking down the street side by side with Abraham, the greatest figure of the Old Testament. The whole story is based on the premise that we will know one another in Heaven. Though their earthly timelines had been separated by two thousand years, Abraham and the beggar knew one another and fellowshipped together.

I don’t know if they knew one another instinctively or if they were introduced to each other. I’m curious about this. When I get to Heaven, will I instinctively know my grandfather, who was a mountain preacher and died long before I was born? Or will he come up to me and say, “On earth, I was your grandfather”?

I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to knowing him, along with Abraham, the beggar of Luke 16, and all the other heroes of the faith. One small hint that our knowledge may be instinctive comes from the next passage.

Matthew 17:1–8

The transfiguration of Christ was the moment when Peter, James, and John caught a glimpse of the intrinsic, eternal glory of their Savior. Matthew 17:1–4 says,

After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

When Jesus came to earth, He left His throne and its eternal glory. He temporarily relinquished His splendor and some of His divine prerogatives. He entered humanity as a baby in a manger. But on this occasion during His earthly life, He was momentarily enveloped with a flash of His original and eternal glory.

How amazing that two Old Testament heroes joined Him! Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all belonged to different epochs of human history. Moses dates to about 1400 BC, Elijah lived in the 800s BC, and Jesus lived in the first century AD.

Here we have three men whose earthly lives were separated by fourteen hundred years, and yet they all knew each other. They were standing there physically, fellowshipping and talking together. They were known by their same names, but they were glorified, energized, wrapped in light.

This is a sneak peek of Heaven!

So, yes, we’ll recognize our loved ones in Heaven. As someone once put it, we’ll certainly not be greater fools in Heaven than we are on earth. If we know one another now, we’ll certainly know one another in the soon-to-be.

Excerpted with permission from 50 Final Events in World History by Robert J. Morgan, copyright Robert J. Morgan.

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jdgo51 · 2 days

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APRIL 27, 2024

Persevering in Love

Jill Allen Maisch (Maryland, USA)

"Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent." - Psalm 71:9 (NRSVUE)

“'The elevator is broken again,” my 93-year-old mother stated for the fourth time during our phone conversation. I contacted her assisted-living facility and learned that the elevator was not broken. The sad truth is that, due to the onset of dementia, she sometimes forgets how to use it.

Over the past two years, I’ve learned firsthand that having a family member whose memory, perception, and reasoning are failing is extremely challenging. Several months ago, after working all day and helping my mother for a few hours in the evening, I felt completely exhausted and tearfully cried out to God, “I can’t keep doing this!” God answered by offering vivid memories of how brilliant, creative, funny, independent, and loving my mother had been. This softened my attitude about caring for her. Instead of seeing it only as an exhausting responsibility, I saw the blessing in being able to provide my mother with the same love and support she had selflessly given to me throughout my life.

As her dementia progresses, there continue to be times when caring for my mother is demanding, discouraging, and depressing. With God’s support, though, I can pause to take a deep breath, whisper a prayer of thanks for having grown up with her as my mother, and persevere in love."' When we think we cannot progress in a situation of our lives; reflect on past things that were good and uplifting. Then proceed to face the challenge before you.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Thank you, God, for the love and support we too often take for granted. Help us to persevere in loving those who need our care." Amen.

Psalm 71:7-18

"7 I’ve become an example to many people because you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, glorifying you all day long. 9 Don’t cast me off in old age. Don’t abandon me when my strength is used up! 10 Yes, my enemies have been talking about me; those who stalk me plot together: 11 “God has abandoned him! Pursue him! Grab him because no one will deliver him!” 12 Don’t be far from me, God! My God, hurry to help me! 13 Let my accusers be put to shame, completely finished off! Let those who seek my downfall be dressed in insults and disgrace! 14 But me? I will hope. Always. I will add to all your praise. 15 My mouth will repeat your righteous acts and your saving deeds all day long. I don’t even know how many of those there are! 16 I will dwell on your mighty acts, my Lord. LORD, I will help others remember nothing but your righteous deeds. 17 You’ve taught me since my youth, God, and I’m still proclaiming your wondrous deeds! 18 So, even in my old age with gray hair, don’t abandon me, God! Not until I tell generations about your mighty arm, tell all who are yet to come about your strength,"' I can always recall your presence and your hand in meeting challenges. I can praise you for always being there for me. Bless everyone! Joe

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jdgo51 · 2 days

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Ordinary Mornings, Extraordinary Grace

Today's inspiration comes from:

Sure as the Sunrise

by Emily Ley

"From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace "— John 1:16

"'Today, take note of what brings you gladness. That which gives you pause or causes you to take a deep breath. These are glimpses of God’s goodness in our lives, brought to life through moments and things, memories and sounds. Realizations and hope. In its biggest forms: a moment you wish you could freeze in time, and in its smallest: a sliver of grace, otherwise overlooked.

I wake up to the smell of fresh laundry, sheets cool against my skin. One eye open, I peek down at the floor next to me, and there you are in your pink sleeping bag, wearing your cheerleading camp T-shirt.

I stare at you a while, smiling at who you once were, all bright pink lips and big, bold, spunky laugh. And who you are now: deeply loving, a servant’s heart, a laugh still the color of sunshine.

You wake, voice full of sleep, and say, “Hi, Mama. I’ll make you some coffee, okay?” and you’re off, wide awake in just a few seconds flat.

And now here I am, cup of coffee in my favorite Ted Lasso mug, brought to me by my favorite six-year-old barista who just learned how to work the Keurig. Splash of cream, made with love. Ordinary morning, extraordinary grace.

Name your delights today. What’s your ordinary moment full of extraordinary grace?

Today, take note of what brings you gladness.

Mercy and Delight

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. — Song of Solomon 4:7 NIV

There’s something about writing that makes you live life with your eyes wide open. I’ve learned, though, that this is a lovely thing to practice. Moments of mercy and delight are all around us, but like our fleeting moments of in-between bliss, they will evaporate like snowflakes landing on warm palms if we don’t pause long enough to notice them.

A butterfly flying in an open window. Fluttering in, then right back out. Little butterflies don’t belong in houses; what could he be doing here? This is what hope feels like.

A genuine moment with a child, eyes locked. “Mommy, you’re the very best.” Please stay this age forever, my darling. This is what love feels like.

Rainy Saturday mornings, the kids watching cartoons outside our door, me curled up with you. You always said that spot was mine. I think I’ll stay here a while, the rain reminding us of the warmth and safety of home, everything we love inside these walls. This is what trust feels like.

A North Carolina waterfall, hundreds of miles from home, the three of us totally outside of our comfort zones, relishing the mountain air, the adventure of the day, God’s glorious creations on grand display, nature beaming at us from every direction. This is what growth feels like.

Consider your moments of mercy and delight God reveals Himself to us in these tiny moments, those fluttering lashes, the sound of the rain on our windows. As you move about your day, take note. Live today with eyes wide open."'

Excerpted with permission from Sure as the Sunrise by Emily Ley, copyright Emily Ley.

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jdgo51 · 3 days

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Come to Me, My weary one

Today's inspiration comes from:

Jesus Calling for Moms

by Sarah Young

"Come to Me, My weary one. Find rest in My refreshing Presence. I am always by your side, eager to help you — but sometimes you are forgetful of Me."

"'You are easily distracted by the demands of other people. Their expectations can be expressed in ways that are harsh or gentle, guilt-inducing or kind. But if these demands are numerous and weighty, they eventually add up to a crushing load.

When you find yourself sinking under heavy burdens, turn to Me for help. Ask Me to lift those weights from your shoulders and carry them for you. Talk with Me about the matters that concern you. Let the Light of My Presence shine on them so you can see the way forward. This same Light soothes and strengthens you as it soaks into the depths of your being.

Open your heart to My healing, holy Presence. Lift up your hands in joyful adoration, letting My blessings flow freely into you. Take time to rest with Me, beloved; relax while I bless you with Peace.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 NLT

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. — Psalm 134:2

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. — Psalm 29:11

When you need to take a break, remember that I am your resting place.

Stop your incessant worry-planning! Draw your mind back from the future to the present moment, where My Presence lovingly awaits you. Seek My Face with a smile in your heart, knowing that I take delight in you. Talk with Me about all that concerns you and the tasks that are weighing on you. Call out to Me for help as you set priorities according to My will. Then keep returning your focus to Me and to the work at hand. Inviting Me into your activities increases your Joy and helps you to be more effective.

When you need to take a break, remember that I am your resting place. My everlasting arms are always available to support you and hold you close. When you relax in My company — waiting with Me for a time — this demonstrates genuine trust in Me. As you prepare to return to your tasks, make the effort to include Me in your plans. This protects you from worrying; it also helps you stay close to Me, enjoying My Presence.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” — Luke 12:25-26

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” — Psalm 27:8 NKJV

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. — Psalm 62:5-6"'

Excerpted with permission from Jesus Calling for Moms by Sarah Young, copyright Sarah Young.

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jdgo51 · 3 days

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APRIL 26, 2024

No Questions Asked

Jim Harris (Virginia, USA)

"'Jesus said to [the disciples], “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”' - Matthew 14:16 (CEB)

"My church operates two food pantries. One is for USDA food and requires income verification. The other provides food donated by local grocery stores. I especially enjoy serving in this pantry because we feed anyone who comes seeking food. We do not ask their income, why they need the food, or any other such questions. We ask how they are doing and try to brighten their day with loving smiles and words of encouragement along with the food.

In the Gospel stories of Jesus feeding the multitudes, there is no record of Jesus asking the people if they needed food or if they were believers. He simply asked his disciples to feed the people.

As I serve in the food pantry, I know that I am quietly preaching a sermon on the love of Jesus. Some of the people we have fed now help us with this ministry, even though they are not members of our church. Standing with them to feed others is one of my great joys. I am grateful to be able to minister in this way, no questions asked." Give of yourself and what you have to others. God wants us to do this. Even in small ways that you can assist.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Dear Lord, as you have poured out your grace on us, so may we freely share your love and grace with others at every opportunity. To God be the glory." Amen.

Matthew 14:13-21

"'13 When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. 15 That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. 21 About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten."' God's blessings and His presence can turn anything around. In this well known story, a small boys lunch was transformed into a feast for 5,000 others. God did this! And you can be helped (fed) also. Bless you! Joe

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jdgo51 · 4 days

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The Power of Connection

Today's inspiration comes from:

Praying the Scriptures for Your Life

by Jodie Berndt

"I am the vine; you are the branches." — John 15:5

"'People used to say my father and I favored each other.

They said I had my dad’s smile (which made me happy), as well as his nose (which made me less happy). We shared many of the same interests and skill sets, including the ability to play only mediocre tennis but get a varsity-level suntan if we parked ourselves in a beach chair for an hour. Dad loved comparing forearms at the end of the day to see who was darker — a contest that he always won.

For better or for worse, children are image bearers, a connection that reflects our relationship with our heavenly Father. Remember what God said when He was creating the world?

Let Us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness.

And then, having created Adam and Eve, God gave them a job:

Be fruitful, He said, and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.1

I can’t help but think that Jesus had the creation story in mind as He issued a similar charge to His disciples.

I am the vine; you are the branches, He said. I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.2

Just as we bear the image of the Creator, so a branch bears the image of the vine. And just as God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful, so Jesus says we’ve been chosen — appointed — to bear fruit.

I don’t know about you, but I find these twin fruit-bearing assignments, one from Genesis and the other from John, as intimidating as they are inspiring. I love the grand vision — the idea that we are in a living relationship with the Creator who intends for us to impact the earth — but I wonder how we are supposed to go about doing the job. What role can I play? What role can you? Can we really be difference makers in the world?

Thank goodness for Andrew Murray, who explains how the vine-branch union works in the fruit-bearing process.

“Without the vine,” Murray writes, “the branch can do nothing.”

As branches, we get that. We know we need the vine to nourish us and equip us to produce fruit.

We know we need God. But there’s a flip side, Murray says, to the fruit-bearing process: “Without the branch the vine can also do nothing.” He goes on:

A vine without branches can bear no fruit. No less indispensable than the vine to the branch, is the branch to the vine. Such is the wonderful condescension of the grace of Jesus, that just as His people are dependent on Him, He has made Himself dependent on them. Without His disciples He cannot dispense His blessing to the world.3

It’s okay. I’ll wait while you read that one again. (I had to.)

What Murray is saying, in a nutshell, is this:

Without the disciples — without us — God cannot provide good things for people.

That’s... astounding.

God could have chosen to work around us (or even in spite of us), but He didn’t. He chose to work in us and through us to bless other people. God chose us — His image bearers — to reflect His love and be the channel through which His power is unleashed in our world. And the way this works — the way we open the chute for God’s power and provision — is through our prayers.

We see the link between prayer and provision played out over and over again in the Bible. God gave the barren Hannah a son, provided rain for Elijah, opened Peter’s prison doors, and added fifteen years to King Hezekiah’s life.4

God moves when His people pray.

And when Jesus tells us to “ask,” it’s not just an invitation. It’s a command:

Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit.5

When we pray, we bring glory to God. He wants us to plow the field with our prayers so that He can provide an incredible harvest.

And all I can think, as I consider how a mighty God could entrust us with such a high calling, is that it is because of how much He loves us. Not because we are clever or well-behaved or (thank goodness!) athletic, but simply because He is our Father — the Father who loves us and longs, as Jesus reminds us, to “give good gifts to those who ask Him.”6

My earthly father died, way too young, from brain cancer. As I look back on his legacy — on all the ways his life left an imprint on mine — the gift I cherish the most is the introduction he gave me to Jesus. Dad came home one day when I was just eight years old and confessed that he’d had it all wrong. He had spent his life trying to earn God’s approval (teaching Sunday school, working hard at his job, playing second-rate tennis with a big grin on his face) until someone told him it wasn’t about being a “good guy.” Being a Christian was about realizing you were not good, after all, and that you needed a Savior.

All of which made complete sense to me. Even as a child, I knew I was a sinner. The idea that God’s grace could cover my failings came then, as it does now, as a major relief — and I was only too glad to (as John 1:12 puts it) receive Jesus, believe in His name, and receive the right to become a child of God.

And today, as I slip my hand into my heavenly Father’s and consider the fruit He has already produced and the harvest yet to come, I am reminded of the blessing, and the privilege, that comes with being an image bearer.

I am reminded of the blessing, and the privilege, of prayer.

God moves when His people pray.

READ

➢ See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

➢ “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples... You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you.” (John 15:8, John 15:16)

➢ We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

REFLECT

➢ God created you with a longing to live a life of purpose and impact. He has put desires in your heart that He wants to satisfy in above-and-beyond ways. And as you receive Him and believe in Him, He calls you His child. You are His masterpiece.

➢ Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the work God wants you to do, the prayers He wants you to pray. Where do you long to see fruit in your life? How might your prayers in this area bring glory to God? What, if anything, is holding you back from asking “big”?

➢ Allow yourself to envision your life as a vine-branch union with Christ, one that brings glory to God, produces much fruit, and marks you as one of His own. Surrender any thoughts or fears (I’m not good enough... I don’t pray very well... I already have too much on my plate) that may keep you from flourishing in your role as a fruit bearer. Rest secure in God’s presence today, knowing you are extravagantly, lavishly loved.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father...

➢ Thank You for creating me in Your image. I receive You and believe in You; thank You for welcoming me as Your child. (John 1:12)

➢ Give me the power to understand how wide and long and high and deep Your love is, and fill me to the measure of all Your fullness. (Ephesians 3:18–19)

➢ May I gradually become brighter and more beautiful as You enter my life and make me more like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG)

➢ Teach me to pray. (Luke 11:1)

➢ May my prayers bring You glory, bear lasting fruit, and mark me as one of Your disciples. (John 15:7–8)

➢ You created me in Christ Jesus to do good works. Show me how to pray about ______ so the good things You have planned will come to fruition. (Ephesians 2:10)

➢ When I feel weak or ill-equipped, remind me that Your grace is sufficient and Your power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

➢ Thank You for choosing me and appointing me to bear fruit. Teach me to focus my efforts, and my prayers, on fruit that will last. (John 15:16)

➢ No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Keep me attached to You. (John 15:5)

➢ I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:14–16)

➢ When I am anxious or uncertain, remind me that nothing can separate me from Your love. (Romans 8:39)

➢ You live among us, Lord. Take delight in me; calm all my fears; rejoice over me with joyful songs. (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)"'

Genesis 1:26, 28. John 15:5, 16. Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ (1888; repr., Apollo, PA: Ichthus, 2014), 25, http://ccbiblestudy.net/Topics/74Union/74Union-E/740101《Abide in Christ》(Andrew Murray).pdf. See 1 Samuel 1:10–20; James 5:17–18; Acts 12:1–19; 2 Kings 20:1–7. John 15:7–8. Matthew 7:11.

Excerpted with permission from Praying the Scriptures for Your Life by Jodie Berndt, copyright Jodie Berndt.

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jdgo51 · 4 days

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APRIL 25, 2024

Guiding Light Kumalawaty Sundari (Jakarta, Indonesia)

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."- John 16:33 (NIV)

"Watching the sunrise from my balcony is something I always await with enthusiasm. One day I was disappointed because there were many dark, thick clouds in the sky. I thought it would certainly begin to rain soon, but slowly the dark clouds turned red. As time passed, the clouds began to dissipate until finally the sun shone brightly. Hardly believing what I had just seen, I realized that like the light of the sun overcoming the dark clouds that morning, God is greater than all my problems.

Sometimes life feels gloomy and we just live day by day without a clear sense of purpose. However, when we trust in Jesus, he is the light that guides our way; with his strength we do not carry our burdens alone. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to direct our steps so that we can always move forward with hope." Our world can become very gloomy, but when we trust the Lord to take control He will bring the light. He can light up a million skies just by mere presence. Let Him be totally present with you on life's journey.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Triune God, life is full of uncertainty, yet we know we can rely on you. Comfort us during hard times, and help us to look forward in hope to the promise of salvation." Amen.

John 16:1-15

"'1 I have said these things to you so that you won’t fall away. 2 They will expel you from the synagogue. The time is coming when those who kill you will think that they are doing a service to God. 3 They will do these things because they don’t know the Father or me. 4 But I have said these things to you so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. “I didn’t say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I go away to the one who sent me. None of you ask me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Yet because I have said these things to you, you are filled with sorrow. 7 I assure you that it is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. 9 He will show the world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me. 10 He will show the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. 11 He will show the world it was wrong about judgment because this world’s ruler stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now. 13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you."' The Spirit was sent to abide with you at all times. When Jesus was with His followers there was no need to think of or consider a companion, but once He was gone from the earth that changed. Just know you are in great hands with the Trinity and the Spirit is with you always. God and Jesus are there also, and you can go to them anytime needed. So we are truly covered and comforted in this. Be blessed! Joe

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jdgo51 · 5 days

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Beach Days: Salt-Air Hair

Today's inspiration comes from:

"Devotions from the Beach"

"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." — Proverbs 21:30 NIV

"'When we visit the beach, why does our hair frizz, turn into unwanted curls or a lack of them, or flail out in flyaways? Our hair just frustrates us as it blows around in the salty breeze.

We smooth it down. We may even comb conditioner through it. Or we stuff it into a loose bun or ponytail, hoping that will keep wild strands in check. We might as well give up! We have salt-air hair.

Today’s verse wasn’t written with salt-air hair in mind, but beach-blown hair can remind us of this truth: some things are just out of our control. And our best efforts, no matter how intelligent or skillful they are, cannot succeed against God.

We can laugh about this when it comes to frizzy beach hair; we can even try to embrace our over-curly locks. But there are times when the situation is not so funny, times when evil seems to be winning: our child is being bullied, our best friend is making a destructive decision, or a boss’s words are cutting and dismissive.

No matter how things appear, God instructs us to let Him guide us in all things (Proverbs 3:5–6). We know that His answers alone will succeed —

The victory belongs to the LORD. — Proverbs 21:31

Savor this truth and leave the hair gel behind today! Let your hair fly free as a reminder that your soul does as well.

Father God, I don’t have to worry about how to fix all the problems in life; You will take care of them. That frees me, and I thank You!

Trust God’s timing and the provision that will come.

ESCAPE THE EBB TIDE

In Your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with Your sure salvation. — Psalm 69:13

Ebb tide describes the outgoing tide — the period between high tide and low. As women, we may find that our ebb tides can be almost worse than our low tides: that stumbling forward, receding, that feeling of helplessness. An ebb tide is a period of decline. It might be late notices on bills you cannot pay. The husband who seems distant. The announcement confirming layoffs are pending. We cannot get resolution, and we don’t know whether to move forward or side- ways. We’re caught.

Sometimes these events unfold because of our bad decisions. Sometimes they have nothing to do with us. Regardless, we realize we are not in control — and we never were.

Psalm 69 shows David in a similar place. “Exhausted from crying for help,” he couldn’t “find a foothold” while “waiting for [his] God to help” (Psalm 69:2–3). He suffered from ridicule and scorn. Whispers about his activities abounded, with added embellishment. But he waited and stayed faithful, knowing God’s “sure salvation” would come.

When you find yourself being swept into the ebb tide, remember David’s prayer. Trust God’s timing and the provision that will come. And remember, the tide will rise again to take you safely back to shore.

Father, thank You for David’s reminder to call out to You in seemingly hopeless situations. Let me not forget to praise You in times of both plenty and lack."'

Excerpted with permission from Devotions from the Beach, copyright Thomas Nelson.

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jdgo51 · 5 days

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APRIL 24, 2024

God Provides Strength Steve Wakefield (Alabama, USA)

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." - Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)

"I loved coaching the eight-year-old Rangers Little League team. They learned an important life lesson during the season-ending tournament. The Rangers had yet to win a game, and the team and their parents couldn’t wait for the season to be over.

Fully expecting to lose, we played our first game of the tournament and won. The next day, we won again. The third game was against the best team in the league. They had dominated the league all season. Our team said, “We don’t stand a chance.” But I told them anything is possible, and that is why we play the game. We won the final game by a landslide.

As I contemplate the lesson the Rangers learned that day, I am reminded of our passage in Hebrews where we are instructed to run the race that has been marked for us. Although we face opposition, we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses and should not grow weary in our efforts. We must never give up or lose heart. When we face challenges that seem insurmountable, we need only to place our focus on God and God’s promises. Our God will provide the strength we need for what lies ahead." Concentrate on God and know He will be right there in every life situation.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Dear God, as we run our race, help us to fix our eyes on you and not grow weary." Amen.

Hebrews 12:1-11

"1 So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, 2 and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up. 4 In your struggle against sin, you haven’t resisted yet to the point of shedding blood, 5 and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters: My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline or give up when you are corrected by him, 6 because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves, and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts. 7 Bear hardship for the sake of discipline. God is treating you like sons and daughters! What child isn’t disciplined by his or her father? 8 But if you don’t experience discipline, which happens to all children, then you are illegitimate and not real sons and daughters. 9 What’s more, we had human parents who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live? 10 Our human parents disciplined us for a little while, as it seemed best to them, but God does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness. 11 No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it." Accept God's discipline and direction every day. Bless! Joe

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jdgo51 · 8 days

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God Is Listening

Today's inspiration comes from:

Grace for the Moment for Moms

by Max Lucado

When you wonder if anyone is listening, know this: God is.

Your voice matters in Heaven.

He takes you very seriously. When you enter His presence, He turns to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God, and He listens.

He listens to the painful plea of the elderly in the rest home.

He listens to the confession of the prodigal.

When the guilty beg for mercy, when the spouse seeks guidance, when the mom steps out of the chaos and into the chapel, God listens. Intently. Carefully.

God is standing on the front porch of Heaven, expectantly hoping, searching the horizon for a glimpse of His child... And the name He calls is yours.

Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. — Psalm 116:2 NIV

When a believing person prays, great things happen. — James 5:16

You will call My name. You will come to Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will search for Me. And when you search for Me with all your heart, you will find Me! — Jeremiah 29:12-13

Whenever you want to talk, God will listen.

Your voice matters in Heaven.

Precious Prayers

You and I live in a loud world. To get someone’s attention is no easy task. They must be willing to set everything aside to listen: turn down the radio, turn away from the monitor, turn the corner of the page and set down the book. When someone is willing to silence everything else so they can hear us clearly, it is a privilege.

A rare privilege, indeed.

Your prayers are honored in Heaven as precious jewels.

Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord. Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.

Your prayer on earth activates God’s power in Heaven, and God’s will is done “on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NIV).

Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don’t need to. But this much is clear: many actions in Heaven begin with precious prayers on earth.

The Lord sees the good people and listens to their prayers. — 1 Peter 3:12

In my trouble I called to the Lord. I cried out to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my call for help reached His ears. — Psalm 18:6

I will provide for their needs before they ask, and I will help them while they are still asking for help. — Isaiah 65:24

The power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it. Your prayers do make a difference.

Excerpted with permission from Grace for the Moment for Moms by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

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jdgo51 · 8 days

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Daily Devotional

APRIL 21, 2024

Praying Boldly

Gretchen Schloesser (Arizona, USA)

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

"'Our young daughter was tucked into bed, covers up to her chin. After a song, I asked her the same question we pose every evening: “What do you want to pray about?”

She paused, lips pursed together, forehead furrowed in thought. Her sweet toddler voice responded, “I want to ask God to make unicorns real.”

In the hardships of daily life, it’s not difficult to lose our joyful, trusting, wide-eyed faith. But as for children, why wouldn’t they ask God for anything? If God can heal the sick, raise the dead, and create the planets in outer space, surely God can make unicorns real! And if my daughter has faith enough to pray for that, I want a childlike faith to ask God for big, bold things too.

We all experience times when our faith feels small, when we haven’t dared to hope that God can bring healing or reconciliation or fulfillment. Even then, God is still the God of the impossible. So let’s take a page from the children among us and start asking God for the big, seemingly impossible things."'

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Dear God, inspire our doubting hearts to believe and trust you with childlike faith. Give us audacity to pray boldly. In the name of Jesus. "Amen!

Matthew 18:1-5

"1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, 3 and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." Have faith, that of a child and all things will go well as your Heavenly Father guides your life. Bless others! Joe

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jdgo51 · 9 days

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God Sees You

Today's inspiration comes from:

When Grief Goes Deep

by Timothy Beals

When I was fifteen, my granddad was hospitalized. When I went to visit him, he was screaming, and my mom wouldn’t let me go into his room. I sat in the hall and listened as he cried out in desperation. I heard every word.

“Jesus, dear Jesus. I want to come home. Jesus, please release me from this body. I want to come home, dear Jesus.”

I listened to those words echo down the hall over and over. I now realize that my granddad had the same desire as Paul “to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23). Grandpa had been paralyzed and had suffered for years. He was a man of faith who believed God was with him.

I am reminded of Hagar, who fled from Sarai into the desert. My granddad must have felt as if he had been left in the desert. When Hagar was in the desert, the angel of the Lord told her,

Go back to your mistress and submit to her. — Genesis 16:9

The angel promised Hagar that her descendants would be “too numerous to count” (Genesis 16:10). After Hagar’s encounter with the angel, she said,

You are the God who sees me. — Genesis 16:13

In our grief, we can more clearly see God because He meets us in the desert to provide guidance and comfort.

When we are grieving, we may feel like we are in the desert. Yet it is when we are there that we can see God clearly. Hagar realized that while she was in the desert. She said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

In our grief, we can more clearly see God because He meets us in the desert to provide guidance and comfort.

God does not abandon us. While our family and friends may abandon us, God stays with us every step of the way. In John 14:18, Jesus promised,

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Although we may not feel like God is with us, we have to remember that

faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. — Hebrews 11:1

When we are grieving and our hearts are crying out for comfort, God is there. He understands what we are experiencing. God comforts us (see 2 Corinthians 1:2–4). When we turn to God and pour out our hearts in grief, God reaches out and provides comfort to us — even when our friends and family cannot understand our heartache.

Prayer provides an avenue for us to open our hearts to God.

God sees you. He’s listening. Even when you can’t find the words, He hears you.

God, I feel so alone. I don’t know how I can cope. Please comfort me and help me know that You see me and love me. Amen.

~by Beth Robinson

Excerpted with permission from When Grief Goes Deep: Where Healing Begins, edited by Timothy J. Beals, copyright Timothy J. Beals.

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jdgo51 · 9 days

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APRIL 20, 2024

The Power of Salt Navamani Peter (Karnataka, India)

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. "- Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

"Families from our church who live in the neighborhood are part of the neighborhood fellowship group. We meet every month for Bible study, prayer, and to catch up on our families’ welfare. It is a time of fellowship and community building. We always bring food to share. On one occasion I made some chicken curry for the dinner. I expected to receive some compliments for it, but no one said anything. Finally, I asked if they liked the dish. They looked at each other without responding to me. Wondering what the matter was, I took a spoonful of it to taste. To my horror I found it to be tasteless. I had forgotten to add salt!

I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” As the salt of the earth, we work to preserve all that is good and just in the world by being peacemakers and peacekeepers. Just as salt adds flavor to food, as Christians we can bring love, kindness, and grace to those around us." Be the salt that the world needs. Make comfortable those that are disturbed or in turmoil, comfort those in grief and give support in any way possible.

TODAY'S PRAYER Loving God, we long to serve you. Help us to build a just and peaceful society where we reflect your love and compassion to those around us. Amen. APRIL 20, 2024 The Power of Salt Navamani Peter (Karnataka, India)

(Image: Pixabay) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. - Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Families from our church who live in the neighborhood are part of the neighborhood fellowship group. We meet every month for Bible study, prayer, and to catch up on our families’ welfare. It is a time of fellowship and community building. We always bring food to share. On one occasion I made some chicken curry for the dinner. I expected to receive some compliments for it, but no one said anything. Finally, I asked if they liked the dish. They looked at each other without responding to me. Wondering what the matter was, I took a spoonful of it to taste. To my horror I found it to be tasteless. I had forgotten to add salt!

I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” As the salt of the earth, we work to preserve all that is good and just in the world by being peacemakers and peacekeepers. Just as salt adds flavor to food, as Christians we can bring love, kindness, and grace to those around us in partnership with God, reflecting God’s love and light in the world.

(Image: Pixabay) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. - Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” As the salt of the earth, we work to preserve all that is good and just in the world by being peacemakers and peacekeepers. Just as salt adds flavor to food, as Christians we can bring love, kindness, and grace to those around us in partnership with God, reflecting God’s love and light in the world."

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Loving God, we long to serve you. Help us to build a just and peaceful society where we reflect your love and compassion to those around us". Amen.

Colossians 4:2-6

"2 Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray for us also. Pray that God would open a door for the word so we can preach the secret plan of Christ—which is why I’m in chains. 4 Pray that I might be able to make it as clear as I ought to when I preach. 5 Act wise. 6 Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person." Be wise and pray to God that you will be gracious to everyone. Give the response needed at the time. Be a blessing! Joe (did it again, double posted portions....never rely on built in mouse)

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jdgo51 · 10 days

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Today's inspiration comes from:

As Long as You Need

by J.S. Park

I’m sorry to say: I have never seen a miracle in all my days as a hospital chaplain.

I get asked, but no. I haven’t seen one. Not in the hospital. Not in eight years there.

Most days are Friday. Friday on a cross. Friday, total chaos. Friday, only loss.

Fridays the hurt is heavy. The surgery doesn’t work. Time of death is called. The disease takes it all.

Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. — John 19:28–30

The stone silence of Saturday. The confusion and shock and fear. The only sounds the sobbing. The only sight a sheet. The smell of a million plastic tubes. I want to jump to Sunday. Sunday is sealed, over and over, sealed shut.

Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) — John 20:6–9

I’m telling you the truth: I have never seen a resurrection. Only the cold of death, the irreversible.

I wish I could tell you, “And then I came back to faith when...,” and it was as easy as one conversation, one sermon, one Sunday.

My supervisor was right. Every chaplain I’ve met, me included, had their faith-box demolished. We saw too much. We grieved ideas like permanence and eternal memory and divine order. Mostly it was the idea of safety that fell away. In its place, we floated between rooms to these boxless hospital bedsides.

What I no longer believed in was any sort of worldview that had to be held up in order to sustain itself. No doctrine or mindset or self-improvement plan made sense to me in this place. Patients were already burdened with cancer and car accidents; I didn’t need to burden them further with lectures and lessons and forced epiphanies.

We can bear the unbearable is when we bear it alongside each other.

The only thing I had left to believe was not a belief I had to keep, but a belief that kept me. Even if it was one moment of safety, that was what I needed. If I had to hold it up, I let it go. If it held me in that moment, that would have to do.

And the only way I’ve seen that we can bear the unbearable is when we bear it alongside each other.

That sounds like a sappy deal, I know. But even if only for a moment, if you cover somebody with fully open hands rather than clichés or coats of sugar, you can make the grief bearable. I mean it. It really can.

Crucial to the story of Jesus’s resurrection is the story of the survivors too — Mary Magdalene, the woman who found the empty tomb, and the disciples who, together, hid and mourned His death. I consider how the resurrected Jesus returned to His disciples, their futures muddled, each huddled behind locked doors, hiding from hunting, and I am moved by the shape of their joined shoulders. I imagine that even if Sunday had not come, even if the tomb had remained sealed, what these disciples found in the silence of a sealed room was a communion of breath, anxious yet abiding in one another. What they found in the gap between wood and stone were their hands reaching in tender and tangible vicinity.

When I consider what it is to have faith, to clutch the edge of hope in the middle of our suffering, this is how I believe we experience God entering, how I hope to enter too: with hands, feet, eyes, and the heart of the divine in a room at the corner of the universe. Saint John said it like this:

No one has ever seen God, but if we love another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. — 1 John 4:12

If we are made for each other, then our separation is a wound, and when we meet, it is grace that enters there and mends us together.

me in grief. There is something valuable, holy, sacred about being seen — and until the moment we enter the final, eternal resurrection Sunday, may we remember that not one of us — seen by the other — is alone.

Adapted with permission from As Long As You Need by J. S. Park, copyright J. S. Pa

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jdgo51 · 11 days

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Get Your Praise On

Today's inspiration comes from:

The Joy of My Heart

by Anne Graham Lotz

Praise Defeats the Enemy

I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. — Psalm 22:22 NKJV

One way to drive Satan to distraction, and to overcome him, is through praise of Jesus.

Regardless of whether the enemy is a visible foe in front of us like the scribes and Pharisees or an invisible foe outside of us like the Devil himself or an invisible foe inside of us like depression, praise drives the enemy away. In the very prophecy that describes Jesus’ inmost thoughts and feelings as He hung on the Cross, tortured, bleeding, and dying, the psalmist declared,

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of [Your people]. — Psalm 22:3 NKJV

In other words, He is enthroned — He rules in power, authority, and supremacy — through our praise.

In some supernatural way, praise ushers the authority of God into any given situation. One practical way to maintain your praise is to begin every prayer with praise. First praise God for who He is. Then praise Him for something He has done for you. Start now!

~Pursuing MORE of Jesus

Who is praising Christ because you are?

Praising Jesus Is Contagious!

To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! — Revelation 5:13

The apostle John gives us a thrilling glimpse into a universal celebration that one day we are going to participate in. He describes four living creatures who surround the throne on which Jesus reigns supreme. These living creatures never stop saying,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come. — Revelation 4:8

While the living creatures proclaim glory, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship. And as the elders praise, millions of angels join in the chorus, singing in a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! — Revelation 5:12

Then John describes the entire universe beginning to roar in the continuous acclamation of Christ as every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea sings, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”

Who is praising Christ because you are?

~Pursuing MORE of Jesus

Excerpted with permission from The Joy of My Heart by Anne Graham Lotz, copyright Anne Graham Lotz.

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jdgo51 · 11 days

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APRIL 18, 2024 Waving at the Window Rebekah L. Callen (Texas, USA)

(Image: Pixabay) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. - Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

I always had the duty of dropping our kids off at daycare, which is more emotionally difficult than my husband’s duty of picking them up. My children didn’t like being left, and many mornings were filled with tears. It also didn’t help that our daycare was across town from where I worked, so I was inevitably always in a rush.

One morning, I was hurrying out of the daycare to my car, when something caught my eye. In a window facing the parking lot stood my two-year-old son waving excitedly at me. It was a sweet gesture and just what I needed. I told everyone at work how sweet my son was.

The next morning, when dropping my son off, I mentioned to the teacher how my son had made me smile the day before. She kindly told me that he does that every morning and had been doing so for months. My heart sank.

IAPRIL 18, 2024

Waving at the Window

Rebekah L. Callen (Texas, USA)

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock." - Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

"I always had the duty of dropping our kids off at daycare, which is more emotionally difficult than my husband’s duty of picking them up. My children didn’t like being left, and many mornings were filled with tears. It also didn’t help that our daycare was across town from where I worked, so I was inevitably always in a rush.

I never missed his wave after that.

This experience made me wonder how many times I have missed signs of God’s love because I was too rushed to notice. Praise the Lord, we are loved by a God who is patient and whose love never ends." We unintentionally miss signs of connection and love from others. We are moving fast and getting on with our day and; your loved one may be waving at you to show their love. " Stop to smell the roses" and be engaged in your life.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Dear God, forgive us when we don’t notice all the ways you love us. Thank you for patiently waiting on us and for loving us unconditionally." Amen. (never missed his wave after that.)

Revelation 3:14-21

"'14 “Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 After all, you say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve grown wealthy, and I don’t need a thing.’ You don’t realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. 18 My advice is that you buy gold from me that has been purified by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing to wear so that your nakedness won’t be shamefully exposed, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. 19 I correct and discipline those whom I love. So be earnest and change your hearts and lives. 20 Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. 21 As for those who emerge victorious, I will allow them to sit with me on my throne, just as I emerged victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne."' He is knocking, answer Him and let Him into your life to make things right and better. You will have everything that you need or would want. Bless you! Joe

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