The puzzle of our lives comes together with Jesus

Our lives are like a puzzle
Thousands upon thousands
of pieces
to fit together
and make us complete,
whole.

The Lord Jesus
is central
to making the pieces
fit correctly

Without Him
we are nothing

The pieces
don’t come together
the way we’d like them to
and certainly not the way
God intended

The edges are not straight
The valleys are deep
The mountaintops unreasonably high
And everything in-between is in such
sad disarray

Yes, without Jesus
we are nothing

But there are many
who prefer nothing of Him
Phrases of disdain roll off the lips of the lost …
“So what?!”
“What is that to me?”
“I’ll wait”
“When I’m ready, then maybe”

Readiness will never come.

God pulls on your heart strings
Perhaps you feel something
but are unsure what it means
The tugging continues
You are bewildered
You feel
You listen
but what do you hear
and how should you respond?

Talk to God.
He will listen.
He cares.
He  loves you.
He will walk with you
and at times He will carry you.

Pour out all the  anguish you feel,
all the struggles that seem insurmountable .

Talk to God.
He can heal you
if you allow Him to.

So simple,
we make it so hard.

Accept Him.
Believe Him.
Confess Him.

But what do you accept?
and what do you believe?
and what do you confess?

Admit you are a sinner.
We are all sinners.
Not one of us is free from sin
Except One – Jesus Christ
The Son of God.
Accept Him.

Jesus is the one who was born of the Virgin Mary
and God
Jesus is the one who took all our sins upon himself
who went to the cross at Calvary
who bled and died for you and me
Jesus is the one who was buried
and on the third day, rose.
Jesus is the one who sits at the right hand of His Father.
Jesus is the one who is ALIVE.
Accept Him.
Turn away from your sins.
Turn toward Jesus
He  is The Way, The Truth, The Life
Accept Him.
Believe Him.
He lives!

Confess, proclaim!
your faith in Jesus
as your Lord and your Savior.

Dear God,
I  believe you love me. I believe I am a sinner. I believe you died for me. I know I am drowning. Help me God to turn away from all that imprisons me and attacks me. Help me God to turn to you. Save me God. I want to be whole. I pray this in Your name. Amen

I want to be whole
I want to be complete
I want Jesus

When we are One with Him
and stay focused on Him
through every trial we encounter
each piece of our lives
will come together
and fit according to His purpose.

Our lives
radiate from Him
for Jesus is the cornerstone
in the puzzle
of our lives. 

(c) March 10-11, 2014

Who is this?

“Who is this who even forgives sins?” ( Luke 7:49)

We all are sinners
You and you and you and me
Every single one of us
is not perfect
is not without fault

All the goodness
you and I think we are
and do for others
does not make us perfect
does not make us without fault

We all are imperfect
We all are sinners

There is only one
Only One
who is perfect
who is without fault
who has no sin

That One
is Jesus Christ
Son of God
born among men
among sinners

taught One central truth
among men
women too
sinners all

died between two thieves
before all of mankind
past, present and future

took our guilt, our sin
upon Himself
became the Passover Lamb,
the perfect sacrifice
once and for all

was buried, and then,
after 3 days,

That One
Jesus Christ
Son of God
Perfect
Blameless
Pure
and

True

rose again - He’s Alive!

and was seen
by hundreds,
more
40 days
He walked the earth
before ascending
to heaven
to sit
at the right hand
of the Father
to judge
the living and the dead

That One
Jesus Christ
The Holy One
forgives sins

He has the authority
The power

for He is the Truth
- there is no other

He is Our Savior
- only by believing in Him,
accepting Him,
trusting Him
can we hope to obtain
eternal life

He is The Way
- the only way

He is The Solution

Ask, receive

And just as Jesus said
to many during His earthly ministry
and says still today
through the Holy Spirit,

“You faith has saved you.” (Luke 7:50)

(c) February 28, 2014

Whose plans are you following?

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord has plans for you
Do His plans
coincide with yours
or have you decided
you know best?

His plans
are to prosper you
to give you hope, a future

What are your plans

Have you determined God’s plans
are futile … hopeless?
Have you looked upon the world
at everything around you
and thought,
It is too much
I can’t handle it

Have you forgotten?!
You are not in control
God Is.

When you learn toward giving up,
Look Up

When you start to worry about all that troubles you,
Pray
When you feel helpless,
remember He IS with you
When you have fallen,
Reach Up
He will lift you to safety

You may present yourself to everyone
as having it together,
but remember,
God sees straight through you,
to the depths of your soul.

You cannot pretend with God.
He knows you inside and out
When you are weak,
He can make you strong.

Keep your focus on Him
Nothing else
He will guide you through your day.

“…my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity.”  ~ Psalm 141:8-9

 

(c) February 21, 2014

Come to Me

“Come to Me. All you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My voice is easy and My Burden is light.”  ~ Matthew 11:28-30

I AM
All you need
I AM
All you will ever need
to bring fulfillment in your life
that is drowning in a vast sea
of helplessness and hopelessness.

The circumstances
you face and endure
day after day, week after week,
month after month, year after year
may change for the better
but you remain in a state of despair
not knowing how to pull yourself up
and out of the thick mud surrounding you.

The Bible,
God’s Holy Word,
and God Himself,
through Jesus, His Son,
tells us,
Come to Me.
Do not spend your days in sorrow.
No matter how sorrowful they are
I can overcome the darkness
Through Me in you,
the darkness
of days past
present
and even to come
will not linger within you
will not destroy your joy
when to Me
you draw near.

I AM with you
I AM your strength
I AM your shepherd

Rely on Me
not on yourself.

Alone, you will surely fail.
With Me,  you can conquer all
that seeks to devour you.
Come to Me.

(c) February 20, 2014

He will help us overcome

For all the stillness
and quietness
God tells us to have
and do and be

For all the reminders
He gives us
to search for Him
dwell with Him
instead of self
and circumstances
around you

For all that,
accomplishment
is no easy task

To know the way
and to strive toward that way
is done moment by moment
We do not succeed all at once
any more than we fail all at once
Two steps forward
One step back
We are a continual work in progress

When we still look to Him
When we still have quiet time in His Word
When we still pray for others
and yes, even for ourselves
When our hope is in His promises

The pit may be deep
that we find ourselves in
But God is ever present
He will help us overcome.

 (c) February 17, 2014

Be still

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

                           ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

Be still
quiet
Think on all that is God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Think on that which is in you
Think of your First Love
of how you came to Christ
Think on these things
Allow these thoughts to permeate within
to become so much a part of you
that there is no room
for circumstances
and affairs of the world
to overcrowd it
Search for Me
in the midst
of every step and path taken
good and bad

I AM HERE
Be still
quiet
Remember I AM God

(c) February 16, 2014

We need to be more like Jesus

“For  I,  the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.” ~ Isaiah 41:13

The Lord has said,
Fear not
I will hold your right hand
I will help you

Our mission?
To focus our entire being
on Him
His goodness
His majesty
His love
His judgments
His righteousness
His Word
Him
Always
at all times
to not stray unto ourselves
unto the circumstances
in the world surrounding us

Hardship and pain
will be present
wherever we go

The Lord
can and will help us
if we allow Him
to take control of our lives
to let His will
become our will
to not give in
or give up
to carry on
however bitter the pill to take may be

No one reigns higher
than God Himself
We are all servants,
not masters
believing
we must be in control of ourselves at all times
believing
we must act normal even if we need help

Woe
to any and all
who would put another down

Woe
to he or she
who longer sees hope
and self-destructs

Sadness indeed erupts
Answers not revealed

Woe to us all
who live our lives
according to what we think
and not according
to what God’s word says,
to what Jesus has said
and has done

One faithful has left us
gone home
way too soon

We are the losers

We need to reach out
beyond ourselves
to everyone
We need to extend
encouragement
at every opportunity

We need to be more like Jesus
even though the going is rough
for in His word, He tells us
I will help you.

(c) February 15, 2014

For all the reminders, why have you forgotten?

(Based on readings in John 19:7-15)

For all the reminders God has given
few have been remembered
“Do this in remembrance of me”
“Keep these commandments”
“Love one another as I have loved you”

You say you have a law
and that law must be obeyed
Whose law?
It is not God’s law
that you obey
but one of your own making

You say Jesus is not your king
because according to you
He blasphemes
You have no king
He is Not the Son of God

Oh but He is

Woe
You fail to recognize
You fail to see
Your hearts hardened

He loves you
He died for you
He came to set you free
from the sin
which enslaves you
has you tied in knots
and presses you down

Yet you do not see Him
for what He was
for what He is
for what He will be

When He returns
and He will
You will bow down
to Him
You will never again
dishonor Him
You will deserve
whatever punishment He sets

The King you claim
to not have
will reign
He reigns now
He is My King
My Lord
My Savior
My Redeemer

Why is He not yours?
Why have you forgotten?

(c) February 11, 2014

Another cold day .... to be bold

Another cold day
alas not May
to be bold
to do as told
whatever it is,
whatever it takes
as The Lord commands

Tree branches stark
grounded in park
reaching up and out
scattered with snow
that sometimes with blow
The sun shines bright
and pinpoints its target
with just one solid ray
filled with light

So many people
alone and lonely too
reaching
for something more

Some a hot meal
a warm bed
a lasting friendship

Others look for meaning
in their inner core

There is One who Is
and there are
His children
who share His Word
He is Lord
who share His life
filled with strife
who share Him
Jesus Christ

He is The One Who Is
Our great Redeemer
Our Savior
Our Eternal Security
He is The One
The Only One
who fulfills us
who gives our lives meaning

Don’t be like a tree
in winter
but blossom and grow
right where you are
right now

Reach for Jesus
for He is The Way
He is The Life
He is The Truth.

(c) February 10, 2014

Whole and Complete

I am whole and complete in the Lord.
He made me well.
He gave me rest.
I am His forever more.

It was me who cried
Help me!
Save me!
Catch me!

The whispers louder within me
and outside too
Fear and emptiness
has captured me
Am I beyond reach?

a still small voice
booms loudly
that only I can hear

I  AM here My child
I will not leave you
Come to Me
and I will give you rest
Come to Me

Who?
Who are you?

I AM He who you seek
I AM All you need
I AM Jesus
I AM your Creator
Your Savior
Your Redeemer

Come to Me

Follow Me My Child
Only Me

I will lead you
I will show you the way
I know the way
for I AM The Way
and The Light
and The Truth.

Come to Me
Follow Me

Keep your focus on Me
I will never  lead you astray.

Yes,
 I am whole and complete in the Lord.
He made me well.
He gave me rest.
I am His forever more.

(c) February 8, 2014

We can dance with gladness

I struggle.
Being a Christian
does not make me less a person
or even more one
as some may think.
We are all human
filled with weaknesses
Caught in places
we wish we weren't
Questioning decisions.

My struggles
bring me down
to the land of the doldrums
It is not a place
to stay too long
The focus
is only one me
No other is in the picture
No other really matters
Although that’s not really true,
is it?
There are others
You think of them
But they are not with you
You are alone in the land of pity and woe

Yet I read
and study
and ponder
God’s Word
Today, in the midst
of mindless thinking
 a verse in Psalms
speaks to me
It is not the verse

I sought
but the one
I was led to.
God directs our steps
He directed mine
to Psalm 30:11

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.”

The road up and out
is difficult
Circumstances hinder us
from achieving our best
we think.
But in every aspect
of our life
circumstances change
All is not gloom and doom
nor is it
rosy and bright
We cannot say
we wish it was this or that
We have what has been given us

When we strive to focus on the Lord
no matter how hard
to do
in our mind,
in our word
in our action
the doldrums will vanish
And in its place
will be peace,
a sense of calm.

The struggles
exist still
a daily task
we each face
but we can
dance with gladness
in our hearts
when Jesus
is the one
who leads our way.

 (c) February 4, 2014

The answers

The answers
I see
when I am in
His Word
clear and precise
the action
to take
to be pleasing
to Him
at all times.

(c) February 4, 2014

How? ... keep trying

“Watch and pray so you won’t enter into temptation.”  ~ Matthew 26:41

How do you watch
when praying
How do you avoid temptation
when the phone rings
and it is an unnecessary call
bringing only irritation to your quiet
How do you transform your mind
to God-thinking
How do you keep your thoughts constantly on Him
when life enters the picture
and you become distraught over such minor things

Train your mind
to seek God
in every instance

It isn't easy
I've already failed

Then try again
You only fail
if you never try … repeatedly
Continue to seek God
in every instance

Pain and sorrow
anger and frustration
will happen
It is a guarantee
Dust off your pants
Wipe your brow
Go on

 Remember Me – God
in every step.

(c) February 3, 2014 

Jesus conquered Satan

(Based on John 16:25-33)

Jesus overcame the world
He conquered death
and sin and darkness
He died.
He became the Passover lamb
once and for all
to save all peoples
the world over
from every sin
past, present and future.

Satan was consumed
with glee
He was certain he had
achieved stardom
Jesus was dead
But Satan’s glee
was short-lived.

Jesus rose from the grave
His death was not the end.

Three days He laid,
wrapped in funeral garb,
in a borrowed tomb.
Then He arose!

In death He is no more

Jesus is The Light of the world
He has defeated Satan

Whatever we, who abide with Him,
ask the Father in Jesus’ name,
He will give us.

He will give us peace
in the midst of tribulation.

We must focus
on The Light
of Jesus
not on the darkness
and destruction
of the world we live in.

Through His Light in us
we can conquer
whatever come against us.
We have His strength,
His power
to help us achieve
His desire for us.

Don’t give in.
Don’t give up.
The path is hard,
but the Lord Jesus,
through the Spirit of Truth
shows us the way.

(c) February 1, 2014  

Would it have mattered?

(Based on readings in John 13:18-28)

The question
is asked,
“Lord, who is it?”
Who is he
the betrayer of Jesus

The answer
is given.
It is he
He to whom I give
a piece of dipped bread

The question is asked
and the answer is given
But he who asked
does not comprehend
and Jesus’ answer
does not stir any to action.

Jesus knew
who – Judas Iscariot
Jesus knew
Scripture had to be fulfilled
Jesus knew
before Judas himself knew
what part he would play
as deceiver

What if comprehension and understanding had unfolded?
What if the 11 had understood the implication?
What would they have done?
What could they have done?

Would it have mattered?

(c) January 28, 2014

When...

When you listen
When you hear
When the Lord God says
When you do not obey
When you do not trust
When you become angry and frustrated
When you strike out
When you do what you will
rather than what God wills

When you listen and
when you hear
When you do not obey
and do not trust
When the life you lead
leads to destruction
when it happens
then you die.

When you die
When all hope is gone
When you determine you know best
and God knows nothing
When The Truth blinds you
When His love fails to convince you
of how He provides for your every need
When He says
Come. Follow Me.
When we say
No. No way. Not today.
When…

then
When God’s Son returns
Only those
of Him
will be
with Him
in the heavens of eternal paradise
and
Those against Him
will be doomed,
cast into the lake of fire,
eternal damnation.

When…

(c) January 26, 2014

Stay Focused

(Based on readings from II Corinthians 3:18 and Acts 17)

Focus
Focus
Focus
That’s the key
Not on selfish thinking
Not on worldly ways
But on ME
The Almighty One
Father of the Heavens
of all creation
King of Kings
Jesus Christ
I AM

God the Father
Jesus the Son
and the Holy Spirit

Focus
your eyes
your mind
your heart
your whole being
on ME
Do not veer of the path
into an unknown
and thereby become
enamored with things
that are not of ME

Do not concern yourself
with your place of employment
your finances
your schooling
your health
your socializing

But keep your focus on ME
Read My Word
Study My Word
Meditate on My Word
Pray

I will set the pace
I will show you
the steps to take
for you to become the desire
I have for you.

......

Our hope lies in Christ
Not in the prophet Moses
or any other prophet
Our hope
Our future
lies in the Truth of Christ
Not in the falsehoods
passed down from
generation to generation
in Old Testament times
and continues still.
They – we?
who believed the laws
God gave to Moses
was the way to obtain
eternal life
If they but follow …
every dot and cross every t
Everlasting life would be theirs.
But Not So.

The law shows the way
But
The law is not The Way

There is only One Way
One Truth
One Savior
One Basic Problem
On e Solution

The Way is through the shed blood of Jesus,
who came to die to set His people free.
That is The Truth.
That is The Solution.

Jesus Christ is Our Savior.
Sin is the Problem.

Choose Jesus

Forget Sin!

(c) January 25, 2014

Do you walk in the Darkness or in the Light?

“…he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.”  ~ John 12:35

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”  ~ John 12:46

The world lies in Darkness
The sun
awakens the world
with a brightness
that can also bring warmth
But Darkness remains
Sin and its stain permeates throughout

The world
wholly created by God

Its’ inhabitants
choose the direction
to go
left or right
forward or backward
right or wrong

The Son of God
and of Man
Jesus Christ
came amidst
the Darkness
to bring Light
a new path
to follow
that He directs
filled with promise
hope
a future
Everlasting Love
Eternal Life.

Do you walk
in the ways
of Darkness
or have you found
the Light
and the Life
it brings? 

 (c) January 24, 2014

Be a blessing to each other

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit,
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  ~ I Peter 3:10-12

One each a separate, single individual
in joining together in matrimony
became united
married in the eyes
of a Holy God

Be of one mind
is God’s preference
Have compassion for one another
Be tenderhearted
Be courteous
Be loving

Not returning evil for evil
with thought, word or deed
Not seeking revenge
Not throwing out insults

Be a blessing to each other.

(c) January 23, 2014

Are we all fools?

Are we all fools?

Denying the existence of God?
Living as if God did not exist?

God wonders
He searches to and fro
across the continents
the whole world

Are there any who understand,
who seek God?

A few seek after Him
A few are righteous
who believe
accept
trust
and act accordingly
serving Him in
Justice and Truth

but for the vast majority,
Why have they all turned away?
Why have they become corrupt?
Why is there not one who does good?
Why are they all fools?

(c) January 22,  2014

Will you be ready?

The day you die
will come
It may be expected
or it may be
very unexpected

Will you be ready?

There is more
much more
to death
than just the demise
of our earthly body

 There is
our soul
Will it be
to Everlasting punishment
or
Eternal life
we go?

 Will you be ready?

 Time is fleeting
The longer you wait
The less time you have

 Get ready, be ready

Now.

(c) January 21, 2014

Related post: The Truth that sets us free

Follow Me

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  ~ Matthew 7:7-8

Follow Me, says the Lord
Follow Me
at all costs
every time
any time
wherever you go
wherever you are.

What is visible
to the eye
is not all there is.
There is more
I see the invisible
I see the heart.

There are people around you
who need you
They are dying
Their lives are out of whack
They are fearful at every turn
They do not have Me
They have no clue what I can give them.

But you, My child
You know the way I have shown you
Don’t falter
Keep your focus on Me
Trust Me

Through every downward spiral
and upward climb
Trust Me
Believe in My promises

Just follow Me
and through your obedience
to Me
you will come to the aid of another.

I  will be there
and that one who is seeking, will find.

(c) January 18, 2014

Trust Me ... Thank Me

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” ~ Colossians 4:2

Trust Me
All that is accomplished
is not done
because of you
But because of Me
I am in control
This is My world
I made it
as I made you.

When you find yourself
in need of help
whether it be
job, health, finance, family relations
come to Me
Give Me your concerns,
your prayer requests
and then Thank Me
for how I will provide
for you.

I will provide
I will not fail

But you,  My Child,
you must believe in Me
You must come to Me,
make your requests
whatever they are
and trust I will answer.

You must wait
I do not answer in your  time table.

Do not determine the way
and take the steps on your own
Ask Me

When you struggle to wake
in the mornings
Ask Me to help you
and then Thank Me

When your vehicle is being contrary
Ask Me to show you
what to do
Ask Me to help you
get to work on time

And then Thank Me

When your children stay up
all hours of the day and night
Ask Me what to do

I will tell you
You must believe
You must Trust Me.

I can do all things.
Without Me, you can do nothing

All that you have
will never be enough
without Me

You can have less
and yet have more
when your relationship
with Me is focused on Me
and not on yourself.

Even the weather, My child
I can keep you safe
Ask Me
to drive safe
to walk safe
and then Thank Me
for the ways I provide.

TRUST is the key
Without it,
you will surely fail.

Come to Me
All who are weary
and I will give you rest.

(c) January 11, 2014 

There is no limit to what God can do

“With God, all things are possible.”  ~ Matthew 19:26

“…comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

There is no limit to what God can do
Have you forgotten
to take your concerns
to Him
Have you forgotten
He directs your steps

It is not you
It is not me
We can plan all we want
but without God
in the midst of our planning
It is only you
and only me
All your dreams and desires
have fallen by the wayside
because you have withdrawn
from God’s world
and live within
the tiny confines of your own
which grows tighter and tighter
with each squabble
and ill-placed word

God is able
to restore
God is able
to bring joy
to what is lackluster
But you must be
a willing participant
working with Him
not against

You cannot say
you are with Him
if you do not open your Bible daily
if you do not study His Word
if you do not meditate on His Word

Seek His guidance

There is no limit to what God can do

But you do have to ask for His help

Without Him
you can do nothing,
except fail

You are not a failure

Do not give in to negative thinking
Nor pass it on to another
Be positive
Think positive
Be loving
Show love

(c) January 7, 2014

We wait on the Lord

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:31

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:7

We wait
His followers
We wait
on the Lord
for relationships mended
for sicknesses healed
for countless prayers answered

We wait
on the Lord
Lifting our eyes
our hands
our voices
our hearts
toward Him
in loving praise and adoration
as tears flow
for what we endure
for what we have lost

and, lest we forget
for what the Lord Jesus
has done for us
now
yesterday
tomorrow
He bore our sins
He endured much pain and suffering
separated from the love of His Father
He died for us all
and after three days in the tomb,
He arose from the dead
for us all

We wait
His followers
We wait
on the Lord
for His return
but if our time on earth ends
before He comes back
We still wait
Our strength and weariness waning
is renewed by Him,

Who walks with us
abides in us

We wait
eager to see Him – the Lord Jesus -
as He greets us with open arms
at Heaven’s gate

We wait
His followers
We wait
to fly like eagles
and run like deer
in a land flowing
with riches untold
We wait
for The Promised Land
We wait
for You
and soon Lord, soon
I pray, we will be there.

(c) January 6, 2014

I trust You, Jesus

Wherever I go
He is there
His power and might
gives me strength
for the many days ahead
His love and tenderness
gives me comfort
and calmness
to face inner turmoils

Wherever I go
He is there

He reminds me
to trust Him
at every turn
to not follow the path
of so many
who have lost their way

Wherever I go
He is there

Trust Him.

(c) January 4, 2014

Bring me closer to You

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. v 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. v 13 And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. v 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity." ~ Jeremiah 29:11-14a

I started a new devotional today, the first day of January 2014. For the past four years I have been studying from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "I Want to Live These Days with You."  Today and throughout this year, I will be studying from Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling."

Jeremiah 29:11 is a wonderful passage with which to start a new year, a new day, a new beginning. 

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
so every day
I can know
how to be more like You
how to respond to another
my husband (or wife)
my friends
my co-workers
my neighbors
casual acquaintances

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
so when I wake
I will say
What today Lord?
What will you teach me?
What will I learn? 

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
show me how to be
kind and gentle
and patient always
not filling my mind
with contention and hate
not being jealous or envious
not selfish
not frustrated
not given to angry outbursts

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
and stay by my side
as I onward go.

(c) January 1, 2014

Trust in Him alone

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes.”
    ~ Proverbs 3:5-6, 7a

Trust
in the Lord
not in yourself
Trust
Believe in Him
who designed you
created you
gave you the breath of life
With All your heart
With Love

Lean not on your own understanding
Your own ideas
and plans,
successes,
accomplishments
as well as
your failures
mistakes
anxieties

In All your ways
acknowledge Him
Recognize it is He
who provides
everything

It is not about me
or you

Although we live
our lives
like we are in control
of our destiny
we are not.

We are more than puppets
on a string
for God does not control
our every move
We make our own
decisions,
however faulty they may be.

We cannot tell another
how to live.
We can only make suggestions

We cannot be angry
over their decisions.
Perhaps
it is not their decisions
that anger us
but our inner turmoils
that stir within us and boil over. 

Have we lost our way?

We lean on our own understanding
and forget
God will direct our steps
We must simply ask.

Ask of God
Acknowledge Him in our lives
Wait for His Word
on the step (s) we are to take

Do not be wise
in your own eyes
Wisdom and understanding
we may have
but it doesn't come
from within ourselves
It comes from God
He gives us wisdom
and understanding
He directs the steps
we've considered taking
He guides us
on our way

Trust in the Lord
Trust

Keep my focus,

 your focus,

 on Him,
His Word
and He will direct all
my steps,
all your steps
so we will not falter
so we will not question
so we will not fall into deep despair.  

(c) December 28, 2013

We receive ... but what is it we have really received?

We receive
all of us
we buy and sell and barter
We are thankful
for what we have
but often we perceive
a need (desire)
for more .
What we have
just doesn’t seem to be enough

Even in our thankfulness
we complain
We are no better
than the Israelites
who wandered in the desert
for 40 years.

God gave them
gives us
what we need
when we need it
but we are not satisfied

Why is He not enough?
Why must we have something more?

We are dirty
live in filth day in and day out
in our homes
our lives
our attitudes
with all around us

We think we are cordial
give a sympathetic ear
show compassion to the needy
But God knows better
He knows our thoughts.
Our perceptions are often futile.
We are not cordial to all
We do not extend a sympathetic ear to all
Our compassion only goes to those
we deem worthy.
Whereas, God said All are needy.
We all need compassion
A little love and concern for all
goes a long way
But we personally decide
and God loathes many of our decisions.

We have outbursts
We seek comfort
But we don’t find what we need
It  escapes us
We are reprimanded
for our pain
No one to wrap us up in their arms
and just say I’m sorry.

God tells us we are His
He says He abides in all
who abide in Him.

He may abide in us
and we may abide in Him
but His instructions
we do not follow day in and day out

Where is our kindness for each other?

Why are we put down for the pain?

Where is our kindness?

Why is it so hard to say,
“I’m sorry for how you feel …
I’m sorry if I’ve said something that upsets you?”

All we hear is
“You should grow up…
You should behave …
There’s no reason to feel (act) like this.”

Where is our kindness for each other?

When does God ever reprimand us
for our pain?
He see what we go through
every day
He heals us
He cleanses us
But all our peers have not accepted
what God has done for us
every minute of every day.

God sent His Son
Jesus went to the cross
for me and for you
and we believe and accept.
Our trust, our faith frees us
But for all our freedom in Him,
we are still encased behind bars
with our peers,
who have not forgiven us
for our  trespasses,
who   hold our mistakes against us
every day.

We receive
We give and take
We say we are thankful
Where has that thankfulness taken us?
Do we live as Jesus did
or do we live
by our own reason and perception?

It is not about you.
It is not about me.

It is about Him.

But where is He?
Have we really received Him?

(c) December 23, 2013

One Gift

“Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour you do not expect.” ~ Luke12:40

“For a child has been born for us, a Son given to us.”  ~ Isaiah 9:6

God Himself
comes
to us
a baby
born of the Virgin Mary

God Himself
that baby in a manger
that child in the synagogues
that man upon the cross

God
He is
that one

God sends
His Son Jesus
It is He
yet too
The Holy Spirit
all three in one

If you believe in Me
then you believe also in He
who sent Me

If you hear My Voice
and reject it
you have also rejected He
who sent Me

I  and My Father are one

My Father
I AM
born of Spirit
born of flesh

I AM
God, My Father
Jesus, His Son
The Holy Spirit
within every believer --
those who come to Me
and follow Me
and are guided by Me

I AM
the child
born to Mary
for you

I AM
the Son
given by My Father
in heaven
to you

I AM
your redeemer
I came
to give you
hope
new life
purpose

I came
bearing
one singular gift
to and for
you
and your husbands
and wives
 your brothers
your sisters
your mothers
and fathers
your cousins
your friends
your neighbors

A gift
that offers so much
divides so many

It was expected
centuries before
foretold in Old Testament
prophecies
when I
My Father
would become human
yet when
the time came
only a few remembered …
The shepherds watching
as their sheep grazed on the hillside
Astronomers watching
the stars in the heavens
Only a few were expectantly waiting
and ready
for the Son of Man
to come into the world

Gifts
in praise
and worship
and thanksgiving
they came
and come still
to Him
The Lord Jesus Christ,
a radiant light
amid the darkness
of sin and evil
to bring Good News
to all peoples
of every generation
every race
every nationality
every economic level

Gifts
brought
to this Holy Child
of gold
frankincense
and myrrh
to recognize and
pay honor
to His deity,
His purity,
His death.

Yes,
I AM
He, My Father in heaven
Jesus, His Son
born of the Virgin Mary

I AM
He who walked this earth
who took upon My shoulders
all your misdeeds and sins
who bore your shame in silence
whose cross I carried
as My own

upon that one
meant for Me
I AM

He who died
and was buried
and after 3 days
arose
I AM
He who was born
who died
who lives again

One singular gift
I offer you
this day
The gift of
Eternal Salvation.

(c) December 18-19, 2013

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings

I’m sorry I hurt your feelings
It wasn't my intention

I’m sorry my words were damaging
my tone sharp and critical
I’m sorry I missed your pain
and only saw how your actions
affected me
and affected my perceptions
of those around me

I’m sorry I hurt your feelings
I’m sorry I did not hear
your cry for help
I did not see
your need for a loving embrace.

I’m sorry.

(c) December 2, 2013 

The Lord's presence

The Lord’s presence
dwells within me
He knocked --
for years He bid entrance
but I recoiled
fearful of what He would take away
sure I could do fine alone.
His continual knocking
I finally heard
and into my heart
He came.
But His abiding will
was not always one with mine
Our relationship
faltered
I could not or would not
see His way as best
yet He persisted
and in time
through worship
and Bible study
and prayers
and fellowship
I accepted --
He knew best.

All of everything
He offered a better plan
He offered guidance
He offered love
and peace and hope
He offered
It was free
No strings attached.
Except one --
Follow Me
Be like Me
Lead others to Me.

(c) November 29, 2013

He said...

“Do not be afraid; only believe, and (she will) be made well.” ~ Luke 8:50

Do not fear in what life brings
but trust in Me
I will make you whole

Keep your focus all on Me
Do not wander places
that take you beyond Me

Through My Son
your life that you have now
can be made new
cleansed
as white as pure fallen snow

Walk with Me
I will show you new worlds to explore
new people to know
new ways to live your life

Oh you of little faith
or of no faith
Come to Me
Do not fear in what life brings
or in what you do not have,
but want or need
I know these things
I desire your best all ways and always

Trust in Me
Believe in Me
Come to Me

Do not be afraid.

(c) November 28, 2013  

Are you really hearing? Are you really listening?

He (Jesus) cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear! … Therefore, take heed how you hear.” ~ Luke 8:8, 18

In hearing,
may we come to understand
may we listen with our hearts

May we step outside our personal feelings
and SEE the needs of another
the cry of help

Is God’s response
 for you to say to another
You are wrong
Get a grip
Be what you’re supposed to be

Does God say to you
You have it together
Why don’t they
Why do they act like fools
Tell them how they should act
Tell them to grow up

Is this what God would do?
Is this what God would say?

Are you really hearing?
Are you really listening?

Who will come to your aid
when you cry?
Who will answer your plea for help?

Will another step outside
themselves
and see the pain
and hurt
and not judge

Or will they remember
your judgments upon them
and turn away?

(c) November 25, 2013